England should get a fifth Champions League qualifying place next season if Liverpool win the trophy, according to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
| |||||||||||
"Johansson said he would support the idea, if the Football Association (FA) proposed it to UEFA. And I think he is right," Blatter told Thursday's London Evening Standard newspaper.
Liverpool cannot qualify for Europe's top club competition next season via the Premier League because they will not finish in the top four this season.
The FA has already said it will continue to make representations at the highest level to secure a place for Liverpool if they win the Champions League.
Johansson said earlier this month: "If there is a possibility to make an exception for the winner of the Champions League then there could be an additional place. The door is always open. We are there to serve football, not just dictate."
FAIR PLAY
Blatter also appealed for fair play, saying Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho should be more responsible with post-match comments and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney deserved a "clip around the ear" for his behaviour this season.
"I appeal to Mourinho and Rooney," said Blatter. "As stars at such a high level they have a responsibility to fans as well as to the game. With Rooney it is a question of education. He should receive a clip around the ear from the management."
Blatter referred to Mourinho's remarks after Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Liverpool thanks to a controversial goal.
"Mourinho is quiet on the bench. But he should be quieter after the match as well. At Anfield he embraced Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after the game which was great. But then he went on and made comments about the linesman.
"This is where he should think a bit more. In football you learn how to win but you also must learn how to lose.
"It would be good for Rooney and Mourinho to think about all this," the FIFA president said.
