Millennium Stadium Could Host Controversial Liverpool Match

Last updated : 28 May 2005 By Gary Fish


The Millennium Stadium looks set to try and cash in on the possibility of hosting the newly crowned Champions of Europe should a "play-off" game with Welsh Premier League champions TNS for a place in Europe this season go ahead.

Mill Stad Chief Executive Paul Sergeant is prepared to provide the venue for what would be an unbelievable spectacle should the game's go-ahead be granted by footballing authorities.

TNS qualified for next season's tournament by winning the Welsh Premier League and are prepared to sell their sole to the devil in a money spinning play-off with Liverpool to allow them entry to the tournament if there is no other way the Champions could play in the Champions League next seaosn.

Liverpool won the Champions League title for the fifth time on Wednesday despite being 3-0 down at half time to AC Milan, however, unless UEFA step in and grant them a free ticket to the competition next season, they currently have no way of defending the title they snatched from the jaws of defeat in Istanbul.

While TNS's place is only in the Premlimary round of the competition, it is better than the position Liverpool are in, which is a place in the UEFA Cup.

Sargeant said: "Liverpool's performance in Istanbul was absolutely fantastic and I'd like to think they learned how to win a penalty shoot-out from their appearance in the Worthington Cup final at the Millennium Stadium back in 2001.

"That was the first club football match we hosted in Cardiff, and Liverpool, with six of the players who triumphed in Turkey, beat Birmingham City 5-4 on penalties.

"Every football fan feels it is unfair that Liverpool won't be able to defend their title by right next season. If the TNS offer is a genuine one, and UEFA take it seriously, then we would be delighted to host the fixture at the Millennium Stadium.

"After all, Liverpool have played here six times and TNS also switched their UEFA Cup tie with Manchester City to Cardiff in 2003.

"The Millennium Stadium has a UEFA five-star rating and we are hopeful of one day staging a Champions League final in Cardiff. I certainly think we've got all the facilities that the players and spectators need to make it a spectacular success

However, a number of football fans are outraged at the proposed idea by TNS, which is almost certainly financially beneficial to them. TNS would do well to win their Preliminary match anyway, and by playing Liverpool in a large capacity stadium would guarantee them a big pay-off for their place in Europe.

One football fan said: "TNS continue to make a mockery out of our game with their actions.

"They want to relocate to England, building a new stadium in Oswestry, England - in a town whose club merged with their own.

"Their manager also suggested that their recent Welsh Cup final against Carmarthen Town should have been played in the Midlands instead of Llanelli because it would have been more beneficial to their team.

"If TNS like England so much, why dont they just move there.

We might not have the best teams and facilities in Europe, but we make do with what we have and we try to make them better, in Wales. Moving to England will not help our game develop, nor will it increase awareness of our nation's football."

TNS' plans, however, have been rejected by the FAW who have insisted that TNS must enter the competition, or else their place would go to another Welsh club.

FAW secretary David Collins said such a proposition was not feasible and would not be supported while TNS chairman Mike Harris believes a high-profile match against Liverpool makes greater financial sense than playing against a European minnow.