AC Milan to play Champions League

AC Milan, one of four professional soccer clubs caught in Italy's match-fixing scandal, will be allowed to play in the Champions League this season.

The six-time European champions were initially barred from competing in Europe's top club team competition by an Italian sports tribunal investigating the scandal.

After an appeal, the tribunal tentatively permitted Milan to be included in the Champions League pending a decision by UEFA, European soccer's governing body.

UEFA confirmed AC Milan will be officially included in the Champions League on Wednesday, adding that thereis no legal basis to bar the team from entering the competition.

Milan will face either Ireland's Cork City or Serbia's Red Star Belgrade on Aug. 8 or 9 in the third qualifying round.

AC Milan, which is owned by former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, was initially deducted 15 points from the start of the Serie A season and thrown out of the Champions League by Italy's national soccer federation.

But after an appeal,AC Milanhad the point deficit reduced to eight and was permitted to be included in last week's Champions League draw.

Champions League is the top soccer eventbehind the World Cup and Euro, and is a lucrative revenue source for soccer clubs through prize money, broadcast revenue and gate income.