Comments on: UEFA Cup Spot for…FULHAM?!?

By: Ian Rose

Ian Rose — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:18:08 +0000

Steve – they can be relegated and into Europe in the same season. Dunfermline did it last year in Scotland, and it actually happens with UEFA Cup bids from domestic cups more than you’d think. To me, this is the biggest argument against the idea that domestic cups should lead to the Champions League.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:52:54 +0000

I have an interesting question for you. Say the team who won the fair play award was for example, Derby or Reading. Can a team being relegated be given the extra UEFA cup spot, or would that disqualify them?

By: Ian Rose

Ian Rose — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:34:29 +0000

Ideally, I’d like to see the fair play spot go only to leagues outside of the top tier, who already have too many representatives in Europe, but I agree with David – once the rules are set, you stick to them, then change them between seasons when you can’t tell who that will affect. Otherwise it’s favoritism. The 2006 Liverpool example is a great one – it was completely unfair. If Scotland can send Queen of the South to the UEFA Cup for getting to, and probably losing, the Scottish Cup, England can send Fulham.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:25:01 +0000

Did anyone see the video on Fulham’s website before the Portsmouth game? If you didn’t know that Fulham was in the bottom of the table, and just watch the video you would think that they were playing for the FA title. It was kind of funny and sad at the same time.

By: Inara

Inara — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:29:06 +0000

I agree with David. Fulham won that spot fair and square. It’s their right to be in the UEFA Cup, no matter the suits in the FA wish otherwise.

By: Abby

Abby — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:09:34 +0000

Speaking as the Hertha blogger, I can’t help but be a little relieved that it didn’t go to the Bundesliga…apparently we were up for it.

By: David

David — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:59:47 +0000

Rules are rules, even if the result isn’t desirable.

If Fulham qualifies according to the rules that are set in place, then they deserve it. They didn’t cheat or even bend the rules.

It’s cowardly to change rules as you go just because you don’t like the result. If somebody has a problem, then change the rules before the season even starts, not in the middle or end of it.

Similar to Liverpool being admitted into the 2006 Champions League. They finished fifth in the English league but yet somebody unfairly changed the rules just so they could be admitted.

That’s total BS. If UEFA wants champions to be automatically admitted into the next season, then they should have scripted that rule years ago. Some European club inevitably suffered from letting Liverpool in by having to play more qualification rounds.

Again, if you qualify according to the rules, then you deserve it. Let’s just see how the points stack up for Fulham.

By: Shazback

Shazback — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:23:57 +0000

It’s true that the critera for the “fair play table” are pretty difficult to understand…

For instance, you get up to 10 points for not getting red or yellow cards in a game. For each yellow card, you lose a point, and for each red card, you lose three points. 10 points means you didn’t get a single card, and 0 means you got more than three reds and a yellow, or more than 10 yellows.

But that’s the only “understandable” part.

10 more points are awarded for “positive play”, 7 are awarded for “respect towards opponent”, 7 for “respect towards the referee”, and 6 for the completely arcane “behaviour of officials”.

How are these points awarded? No idea.

The FA has only released stats for the first 36 games of the season, and Man City has 8 points more than Fulham. Sure, with the red card against Middlesbrough, that’s only 5 points ahead. Add to that the riot (although the FA might not count it heavily), and you’ve got -another- finish that’s going down to the wire.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:15:04 +0000

As much as I love Fulham, with all my heart, this would be a terrible injustice.
I hope they get a spot but they really really really dont deserve it.