AC Milan's place in this year's edition of the Champions League is not certain. And that's not because they might be eliminated from the 3rd qualifying round - because that's highly unlikely - but because UEFA might rule them out of the competition. The reason might be the fact that Milan would jeopardize UEFA Champions League's image by being part of the Calciopoli scandal in Italy.

The worst part is - as the Milanese fans are concerned - that Silvio Berlusconi, the club's owner & president, does not have the same power as in Italy. After all, Milan being the first team not to suffer a great deal after the match-fixing scandal was seen as a political verdict more than a sportive one by the Italian newspapers. The former Italian PM is believed to have influenced the second verdict, so that his team could still participate in the Champions League.

And UEFA is taking an interest in the Italian match-fixing scandal. The European body already helped the Italian Decision-Making Councils early in the week. UEFA allowed the FICG to send the list with the clubs participating in this season's European Cups one day later than admitted. When seeing that Milan was allowed to compete in CL, UEFA's emergency panel will review this decision and will decide upon the matter later today.

"It is not usual for the emergency panel to meet to consider the entries. The meeting has been called to look at all the entries and specifically the admission of the Italian clubs", said an UEFA spokesman. This way, even if allowed by Serie A officials, Milan might sit this year off.

In the meantime, Carlo Ancelotti already called all his players back in training after finding out that Milan will enter the Champions League 3rd qualifying round. Most of them were on vacation, waiting for the start of Serie A. If allowed by UEFA, Milan will have to get ready for the 1st leg of the CL preliminary round that will take place on the 8th of August.