"We thank the UEFA Executive Committee and especially its President Lennart Johansson for listening to the strength of the argument for Liverpool’s entry", he said.

"The overwhelming view across Europe was that they should be given this opportunity, and this was reflected by the UEFA Executive Committee’s decision today.

"We always said that this was an exceptional situation which required an exceptional solution. For the very first time, one country has five teams in the Champions League, and we have to be delighted at that.

"We believed there were very strong sporting reasons for Liverpool to defend their title, not least after that fantastic Final in Istanbul. That view has prevailed, and rightly so."