From BBC:
FA Rules Give Double Blow to Merseyside.
There were remarkable scenes last night as the English FA made sure that it couldn’t be accused of inconsistency by applying the fourth spot rule across all it’s competitions.
This will not only mean that if Liverpool win the Champions League and finish fifth they will be unable to attend it, but also 10 year old Billy Moran from Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School in Merseyside.
Last year Billy finished fourth in the national drawing competition set by the FA. As a result he was entered as a representative of English Primary Schools into the overall European competition. “I was disappointed to finish just fourth last year,” said Billy, “everyone expected I’d be a bit higher with my collage of Stephen Gerrard, but I was delighted to get through to Europe.”
Unfortunately this year due to breaking his arm during the summer holidays, Billy was unable to replicate his form in the domestic competition, “I could only do tracings and then colour them in. Because of my wrist I couldn’t really stay in the lines that well so obviously I was marked down.”
However, In a cruel twist of fate replicating his favourite team Liverpool, Billy’s form in the European Drawing Competition has earned him a place in the final against German 11 year old Karl Baum. “Karl will be most people’s favourite, he’s a good pedigree in this competition, but he’s too clinical in how he scrunches the tissue paper. I’m going to use crepe paper so I’m pretty confident.”
So confident is he and his fans that the FA decided that just as in the EPL, even if Billy wins the European Competition he wouldn’t be guaranteed a spot in next years finals. “Unfortunately,” said an FA spokesperson, “we have to make sure that we are consistent with our rules. For Billy to win the competition would be a fantastic achievement for him and the country, but we must put emphasis on those who have shown domestic form too.”
It looks likely that unless Billy can produce a fantastic couple of pictures in the last two rounds of the Domestic competition, despite possibly being European Champion, he may well miss out on next year.
“It’s still possible, and I have to aim for that. Jessica Partridge is only just ahead of me, and the last few pictures have been poor, as her felt-tips seem to be running dry. I missed out on gaining some points last week when I accidentally merged my black felt-tip into my yellow, but I’ve just got new crayons and that’s a huge boost to me in the last few drawings.”
Will this be a double blow for Merseyside’s European quest? It looks like both Billy and Liverpool have their destinies in their own hands.
