Platini defends Spurs exclusion

UEFA president Michel Platini says Tottenham Hotspur have not been unfairly punished following Chelsea’s Champions League triumph.

Victory for Chelsea over Bayern Munich in the final of the competition means Spurs drop out of next season’s tournament, despite finishing fourth in the English Premier League.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp described the ruling as ‘unfair’ and called on UEFA to allow five clubs from one country to compete in the tournament under certain circumstances.

Five English clubs competed in the 2005/06 edition of the competition after Liverpool won in Istanbul but finished fifth in the Premier League, prompting UEFA to change their regulations.

“No, they (Tottenham) have not been punished. They know the rules; they should have been third and not fourth,” Platini told a FIFA congress in Budapest.

“Perhaps it could be for discussion in the future about the participation of more than four but for the moment it is not possible because the regulations are for four.

“It is the matter of the executive committee, a matter for discussion.”

Platini said Uefa may be prepared to review the regulation, although no changes to the competition are permitted for at least another three years.

“We can always change the rules. We can always discuss the rules, but not during the competition,” he added.

“We have decided not to change the rules or regulations of the competition for three years.

“Everything can be discussed, the rules, yellow cards, but not during the competition. Perhaps in the next executive committee we can speak about it. I can put that, but they may say no.”