Israeli team Maccabi Haifa have lost their place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League afterfielding an ineligible player.
Governing body UEFA said in a statement today that Haifa's Walid Badir played while under suspension in Wednesday's 4-0 home win over Finnish sideHaka Valkeakoski, which gave them a 5-0 aggregate win in the second qualifying round tie.
UEFA's disciplinary committee awarded the tie 3-0 to Haka. The Finns are now due to host Liverpool in the first leg of the thirdqualifying round next Wednesday.
Haifa have three days in which to lodge an appeal against the ruling and indicated on Thursday that they would do so if found guilty.
The Israeli side were looking forward to a money-spinning encounter with UEFA Cup holders Liverpool and had already moved next Wednesday's scheduledfirst leg from Haifa to the national stadium in Tel Aviv due to the huge interest in the match.
Liverpool, who command a substantial following in Israel, would be the first English side to play Israeli opponents in European club competition.
A place in the cash-rich group stages of the Champions League is at stake for the winners of the tie.