Real wants Diarra, Huntelaar in Champions League

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid will appeal to UEFA against its rule that means only one of the team's new signings -- France midfielder Lassana Diarra and Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar -- is eligible to play in the Champions League.

UEFA rules state that teams can sign three new players up until Feb. 1 but that only one who has played European football that season can play in the Champions League for his new club.

Diarra and Huntelaar played in this season's UEFA Cup for Portsmouth and Ajax, respectively.

Madrid said in a statement Friday that it had "another interpretation" of the rules, claiming they were designed to stop players changing teams within a competition and that they don't apply in this case because Diarra and Huntelaar played in the UEFA Cup.

Madrid said the signings weren't just made because its squad has been hit by injury, and that both players are part of the team's mid- and long-term planning.

Real Madrid hosts Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League's round-of-16 on Feb. 25. The second leg is on March 10.

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