Platini To Calderón: UEFA Can't Change Rules

Los Blancos appear to have exhausted nearly all their options to register both Lass and Klaas for the Champions League after UEFA’s top man himself ruled out the possibility.

Jan 1, 2009 9:37:09 PM

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Michel Platini (AFP)

Real Madrid’s hopes of registering both their two new winter signings, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarrà for the next phase of the Champions League are fast disappearing after UEFA president, Michel Platini personally told Los Blancos supremo, Ramón Calderón that the rules cannot be changed.

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A spokesperson for UEFA had confirmed with Madrid-based daily, Marca that Calderón had spoken on the phone directly with Platini to clarify the controversial ruling in Article 17.18 which prevents the registration of more than one player who had previously played in the UEFA Cup with one team to feature in the Champions League with another club.

Having dished out close to €40 million on Huntelaar and Lass, Calderón was hoping to have both available in the knockout stages of Europe’s premier competition. But Platini’s respond to Calderón was: “I’m sorry, but it cannot be done.”  

As a last resort, Madrid are now expected to take the issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), a move that will not please UEFA.

-- KS Leong, Goal.com

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