AC Milan is pretty much in the UEFA Cup right now. After rumored that the last UEFA qualified team in the Italian Serie A - Empoli - could miss the European cups because they are not licensed by the European body, things have become a lot clearer in the past few days. As it looks right now, AC Milan is now eligible to compete in this season's UEFA Cup. I said "as it looks right now", because AC Milan is yet to discover the result of their appeal.

You might already know this, but the Federal Appeal Commission may very well destroy Milan's dreams of competing in Europe this year. While the 4 clubs involved in the Calciopoli scandal are waiting for lighted sanctions to come on the 25th of July, some of the prosecutors want AC Milan relegated in Serie B as well, while Juventus is demanded to enter Serie C.

So the appeal could go either way for Milan. Still, since UEFA demands the European list by the 25th of July, AC Milan cannot be that unlucky. First, the Appeal Commission would have to find them guilty and punish them more severe than before. Second, the same Appeal Commission would have to give the new verdict by the 25th of July. With the judges meeting for further discussions on the 22nd of July, it's pretty hard to believe it would take so less time for them to issue a new verdict.

Especially since it is believed that 2 more clubs are involved in the match-fixing scandal. With more problems to be handled than expected, three days truly seems insufficient for the Appeal Commission.

The news couldn't come in a better timing for the 'rossonerri', since a European participation this season will certainly stop a lot of players from leaving the club. More, competing in Europe - even if the UEFA Cup is more like a second-hand team - might draw players from the 3 relegated clubs - Fiorentina, Lazio and Juventus - to join the Tuscans. Since most of them want to play in Europe but not necessarily outside Italy, Inter and AC Milan seem like the best destinations for the next season.