UEFA have reiterated their stance that Real Madrid
will not be able to register both Lassana Diarra and Klaas Jan
Huntelaar to play in the Champions League knock-out
stages.
Regulations state that only one player who has already played in
Europe this season can be registered.
Holland striker Huntelaar has played in the Champions League
with Ajax, while Diarra represented Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup
prior to both players agreeing deals which will see them move to
Madrid on January 1.
Madrid have revealed they intend to appeal, claiming they have a
"different interpretation" of the rule, but UEFA insist any
complaints will fall on deaf ears and the Spanish champions will be
forced to choose between their new signings.
"The regulation doesn't offer any other meaning than it has and
Real Madrid can only register one," said director of communications
William Gaillard.
"Making an exception now with Real Madrid would mean that we
would have to pay attention to the different needs of each club and
the consequence would be a never-ending chain of favours.
"Many changes would happen which would end in changing the
spirit of the competition."
Gaillard did not rule out amending the rules in the future but
insisted any change would happen at the end of the season.
"Changing a rule in the middle of the competition is something
that you shouldn't do," he said. "Because what Madrid are asking
for is a new rule.
"For any change you would have to wait until the end of the
season. It is something that at this time we could look at, but
there is an unwritten UEFA rule that is equally solid that
indicates that a rule should not be changed in the midst of a
competition."
Despite Gaillard's comments, Real Madrid president Ramon
Calderon is reportedly convinced of a successful outcome when club
officials meet UEFA president Michel Platini in the next few days
in an effort to resolve the matter.
