UEFA yesterday said it would decide by August 2 whether to allow scandal-hit AC Milan to take part in European competitions for the 2005/2006 season.

UEFA's emergency panel "took note" of a report by the governing body's Chief Disciplinary Inspector "on the question whether it would be appropriate, due to the particular circumstances, to admit AC Milan to the 2006/07 UEFA club competitions," UEFA said in a statement.

"Following this report, the Emergency Panel has decided to further examine whether to admit AC Milan to the 2006/2007 UEFA club competitions," it added.

In the meantime, the club's name will be used in the draw for the third round of the Champions League due Friday.

AC Milan was included in the list of clubs taking part in European competitions sent by the Italian federation (FIGC) to UEFA on Wednesday, the deadline day for entries.

The six-time European champions had finished second in Serie A behind Juventus.

But the Italian football federation (FIGC) had excluded both clubs from their Champions League berth under sanctions for their part in a match-fixing scandal.

However, after a successful appeal earlier this week, an Italian sports tribunal allowed AC Milan to take its slot in the third and final qualifying round of the Champions League, provoking an angry reaction from rival Serie A clubs.

The Serie A title was awarded to third-placed Inter Milan on Thursday.

(China Daily July 28, 2006)