PORTO have survived a referee-bribing scandal, and will play in the Champions League this coming season after all.

This is because an appeal by Benfica and Guimaraes against their reinstatement was dismissed.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) delivered the verdict yesterday morning after considering evidence from Porto, Benfica and Guimaraes.

Uefa had in May, initially banned Porto from the Champions League for the new season after they were convicted of attempting to bribe referees in their domestic Super Liga during the 2003-04 season.

That decision was then overturned on appeal as a Uefa committee concluded that the investigation in Portugal was not yet complete.

Why did Benfica and Guimaraes appeal against the decision?

AUTOMATIC ENTRY

Porto won the Super Liga last season - despite being docked six points in the scandal - to earn automatic entry into the Champions League.

If they had been denied access, Guimaraes could take an automatic spot as the third-placed club, while Benfica, who finished fourth, would have entered at the qualifying stage.

But the latest decision means that Benfica will have to make do with a Uefa Cup place.

Uefa rules state that a club entering the Champions League 'must not be or have been involved in any activity aimed at arranging or influencing the outcome of a match at national or international level'.

Uefa said the decision on whether to submit Porto's name for entry was a decision for the Portuguese League following an investigation of the club's activities.

It chose in May, to submit Porto's name, ruling that the matter had been dealt with by the points-deduction.

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