Uefa to reject Madrid appeal
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Uefa has warned Real Madrid that they will not be allowed to register both Lassana Diarra and Klaas Jan Huntelaar for the Champions League.
It was revealed this week that, under Uefa rules, the club will be able to register only one of the duo for the knockout stages of the competition as they have already appeared in the Uefa Cup this season for Portsmouth and Ajax.
However, Madrid president Ramon Calderon had hoped to convince Uefa president Michel Platini to make an exception.
A statement on the official Real Madrid website on Boxing Day read: “The club's legal services were aware of the fact that one of the two aforementioned players could not be registered to play in the Champions League due to an interpretation of a Uefa rule, but they nevertheless think there can be another interpretation of articles 17.17 and 17.18.
“The club will therefore make its argument known to Uefa.”
However, the club has now been warned that any appeal will be doomed to failure.
William Gaillard, Uefa’s director of communications and public affairs, said: “We can make no exception.
“If we did, Uefa would have to make exceptions for all.
“This can affect the competition. It is a written rule and rules are not meant to be changed in the middle of the season."
Huntelaar, meanwhile, says he has not discussed the issue with the club, but will do all he can to ensure he is selected.
''They can only register one player and I have to do everything possible so that player is me,” he told Marca.
“I hope to be chosen. It depends on me.''