UEFA turn down Real appeal over players eligibility

Spanish giants Real Madrid’s appeal to have new signings Lassana Diarra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made eligible for the Champions League was rejected by UEFA on Tuesday.

Real had already seen UEFA turn down their first try on January 8 because while clubs’ have the right to add a further three players to their Champions League roster for the knockout stages, only one can be who has already played in another European competition the same season.

Both Diarra and Huntelaar have already appeared in this season’s UEFA Cup for Portsmouth and Ajax respectively.

Real Madrid play English giants Liverpool in their last 16 match with the first leg on February 25 and the second leg on March 10.