MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Gibraltar granted by UEFA a place in the Champions and Europa Leagues
One of the most popular teams in the BOT is the local “Manchester United” There could be two Manchester Uniteds in European club competition next season after UEFA on Friday granted Gibraltar one place each in the Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds.
Manchester United, from Gibraltar, currently stand in third spot in the six-team premier division in the tiny British-held territory which lies off the southern tip of Spain and within sight of the African coastline.
UEFA, European football's governing body, accepted Gibraltar as its 54th member in May after a long battle for inclusion, and ruled to include two clubs at strategic talks by its executive committee in Dubrovnik.
The domestic Gibraltan league has three divisions with all participating clubs on an amateur status, Lincoln FC having been crowned champions for the last six seasons.
The British overseas territory was finally accepted as a UEFA member after a 14-year battle during which they faced fierce opposition from Spain. It already competes in the Under 17 and Under 19 European tournaments.
UEFA also said that domestic Cup runners-up would no longer get a place in the Europa League. From 2015/16, the spare place will go instead to the next best-placed team in the league.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsYou have to take your hat off to Spain and Argentina, they have raised the profile of the BOT's in a way they could never have achieved on their own.
Sep 20th, 2013 - 09:48 pm 0Who would have thought that a small rock in the mediterranean would have such established and prominent coverage by the South Atlantic News Agency.
Quite remarkable.
Would it not be ironic for Gibraltar football team, to beat the Spanish team at its first meeting,
Sep 21st, 2013 - 10:42 am 0Still
Will Man United Gibraltar reach the final,
We doubt it, but hey its only football ,
And a great future awaits them…
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@1 “Who would have thought that a small rock in the mediterranean would have such established and prominent coverage by the South Atlantic News Agency.” Dunno. Which “small rock” are you referring to? Gibraltar isn't an island. You could call it a promontory or a peninsula. But NOT an island.
Sep 21st, 2013 - 11:36 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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