Liverpool must go to Japan

Jun 13 2005

By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has told Liverpool they must play in the Club World Championship in December. Liverpool face an extended fixture list following UEFA's decision to allow the Anfield club into next season's Champions League first qualifying round as defending champions. But any plans to lighten the load by withdrawing from December's Club World Championship in Japan will not be tolerated, according to Blatter. The tournament will incorporate the Toyota Cup, a play-off between the European and South American club champions. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT "They must play the Toyota Cup because it is binding for them for 2005," Blatter said. "The cup is in Japan. Do you think they won't play? They will play." The Echo revealed on Saturday that Liverpool intend to pull out of the fixture, though the club has made no official comment yet on their plans. Chief executive Rick Parry said today: "We have not expressed any opinion on our proposed participation yet. We have not been officially invited and we cannot assess the implications until that happens." The Reds, however, will have to rip up their pre-season plans and start again from scratch following UEFA's decision on Friday. Boss Rafa Benitez said: "It is commonsense, the UEFA decision. But it does mess nearly everything up because we have given our players holidays and now we have to play the qualifying rounds on the 12th or 13th. Striker Fernando Morientes, cup-tied for Liverpool's successful Champions League campaign last season, however, is thrilled just to be able to play in the competition again. "After being in the stands for the whole of the last European campaign, I'm overjoyed about being able to play in the Champions League again," he said. "I want to be top scorer in the competition again, as I was with Monaco, and win the trophy with Liverpool." Morientes has three winners medals from four finals and went on: "UEFA have treated the whole thing very sensibly and come up with a very fair solution. I am happy, but I never thought they would not let us defend our title. * Vladimir Smicer is to have a medical with French club Bordeaux and is expected to sign for them subject to its results.

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