2011/12 UEFA Europa League

[Starvinho]

Falcao doesn't half love the Europa League, and lol Celtic...

[Liam]

Johnson's finish was beautiful, even if he was handed the ball on a plate by poor defending.

[IAceI]

I'd feel sorry for Spurs not getting that blantant penalty if it wasn't for the absolute hilarity regarding the PAOK one down the other end.

[Twist]

Bit of a technical fault on ESPN there. Probably the closest Newcastle will get to Europa League football (Y)

[Lineker]

Sion claim they have won a court injunction that invalidates Atletico Madrid's 2-0 victory over Celtic and Udinese's 2-1 defeat of Rennes.

The Swiss Cup winners say the ruling in Uefa's home canton (state) of Vaud means Europea League Group I is invalid if the Swiss side are excluded.

Uefa threw Sion out of the competition for fielding ineligible players.

And Sion lost an appeal against the decision by European football's governing body.

Celtic were reinstated to the tournament despite losing 3-1 on aggregate to the Swiss in their play-off to qualify for the group stage.

But Sion owner Christian Constantin vowed to continue to battle the decision and have returned to the domestic courts in his home country, where Uefa is based.

Uefa, which had ignored a previous domestic court victory by Sion, said it was not represented in court and had no comment on Sion's latest legal action.

However, Fifa's world football statutes forbid clubs going to civil courts to settle disputes.

Sion shelved plans to fly to Spain for Thursday's tie against Atletico Madrid in defiance of Uefa's ruling.

Instead, they announced that they would be seeking 4m euros in compensation through the civil courts.

They also suggested that they would pursue the matter with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The dispute began after Sion signed five players this summer despite a transfer ban imposed by Fifa after breaching rules over the signing of Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary three years ago.

Sion claimed they had already served their suspension and a Swiss court decision prompted their home football association to allow the players to be fielded in domestic competition.

However, Uefa claims that the ban was still in place and ruled that the players were ineligible for the Europa League games.

[Hobo]

I just want to point out how weird it is to hear people call Shamrock Rovers, 'Shamrock' when over here they are primary known as Rovers for short.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Sion's actions are ridiculous. Thing is, UEFA and FIFA work separately to national FAs and laws. So a Swiss court may have cleared them but that won't hold sway with UEFA. Disappointing for them, sure, but they're not winning any friends.

[Colly]

I just want to point out how weird it is to hear people call Shamrock Rovers, 'Shamrock' when over here they are primary known as Rovers for short.

Is that because over there when you hear Shamrock you think of this?

[Hobo]

No it just sounds odd because it's like hearing Queens Park Rangers referred to as anything but QPR for short.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I think I may start calling them the "Park Rangers" from now on.

[Hobo]

I can get behind that!

[Starvinho]

Celtic 1-1 Udinese, a late penalty denied Celtic the win.

Odense 0-2 Fulham, two Andy Johnson goals.

and

Maribor 1-2 Birmingham, Birmingham come from a goal behind to win.

Good night so far for the Birtish teams, hoping Shamrock can get the upset now!

[Hobo]

Good night so far for the Birtish teams, hoping Shamrock can get the upset now!

But if they beat Spurs... It kinda ruins the 'good night for the British sides' thing you have going.

Rovers have been playing quite well in the first half. Not really gotten forward much but they've closed Spurs down well. 0-0 as it stands. Spurs have had chances though.

[Liam]

Haha, get in Shamrock.

[Berober]

Spurs 0 Shamrock 1

Deflection sends it in for Stephen Rice.

[Hobo]

Rovers!

Pav scores. Then Defoe scores. Boo!

[EddieG]

Y'know your shit if Dos Santos scores (while playing for Spurs ) against ya.

[Starvinho]

Stoke just gone in front against Besiktas, 2-1 Walters penalty.

[Dont Fear The Reaper]

Is it just me, or is ITV4 quite a good channel? All I seem to see on it is Sport or classic 80s movies

[Starvinho]

3-1 Spurs FT and 2-1 Stoke FT. Very good night overall.