Milan to play in Champions League

AC Milan have been given the go-ahead to take part in this season's Champions League despite being found guilty in the probe into match-fixing in Serie A.

Milan were initially banned from the competition, but were re-instated on appeal and Uefa's emergency panel ratified that decision on Wednesday.

Uefa said it "had no choice but to admit" Milan, who will play Crvena Zvezda for a place in the group stage.

The governing body was worried about a legal challenge from AC Milan.

Uefa said the Italian club took advantage of the fact that the Swiss-based body lacks legal grounds to refuse the club's admission - and said it would change its regulations as a result.

The emergency panel said it was "deeply concerned that AC Milan has created the impression of being involved in the improper influencing of the regular course of matches in the Italian football championship."

The panel added: "The club has obviously not yet properly perceived the troubles it is in and the damage it already caused to European football."

Uefa said it would carefully monitor Milan's behaviour and added that it would "not hesitate to intervene severely" if the club attempted to improperly influence the outcome of a match.

Milan were initially deducted 15 points and thrown out of the competition by the Italian Football Association (FIGC).

But on appeal they had the deficit cut to eight points and were included in last Friday's Champions League draw.