Real abandon action to register players – UEFA

Real Madrid have withdrawn legal action to have their new signings Lassana Diarra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made eligible for the Champions League, UEFA said Tuesday.

European football’s governing body said Real Madrid would now be invited to choose which of Diarra and Huntelaar they wish to register for the first knockout stage of the Champions League, on February 25 and March 10, against Liverpool.

The move followed a meeting between UEFA chief Michel Platini and Real’s new president Vicente Boluda last Thursday to discuss the Spanish club’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

“Upon the invitation of the UEFA President to reconsider their position, Real Madrid have decided to withdraw the appeal filed with CAS and to accept the decision of UEFA of 13 January 2009,” UEFA said in a statement

Platini accepted that the appeal was made “in good faith” and UEFA revealed that the meeting had sparked a discussion within the governing body on whether the rules on player eligibility “may need to be amended for the future seasons.”

Under UEFA rules, clubs can register up to three new players for the knockout stages by February 1, but only one whose previous club was in Europe this season, and only under certain conditions.

French midfielder Diarra has already played for Portsmouth while Dutch striker Huntelaar has already played for Ajax this season in the UEFA Cup.