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We may gain from Spain's Euro pain
Northern Ireland could be handed a passport to this summer's Euro 2008
finals after all.
Nigel Worthington's side finished in a highly creditable third place in
Group F, as Sweden and Spain claimed the top two places to qualify for
the championships.
Now, however, Northern Ireland could slip in through the back door - at
the expense of the Spanish.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed that Spain could be banned from
international competition if their government tries to intervene in the
election process of the Spanish FA.
Blatter has threatened the national side and Spanish clubs with expulsion
from major tournaments unless their government revoke a new ministerial
order which forces the country's non-Olympic sporting federations to hold
elections before the Beijing Games.
"Either the Spanish government wants football to be played in Spain
only, without international games, or it will accept the international
rules and the Spanish national team will be able to take part in international
competition," said Blatter.
"It would be tough, but it would only take six hours to call a FIFA
emergency committee meeting to hear and decide upon Spain's exclusion.
"Spain would not be able to play at Euro 2008 and their clubs wouldn't
continue in the Champions League or UEFA Cup."
belfasttelegraph.co.uk,
February 19, 2008
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