Over 10,000 sign MEP's football petition

British Socialist MEP Richard Corbett says he remains undeterred by Uefa's insistence that it cannot reopen what is claimed to be one of football's "greatest injustices".

Corbett has asked Uefa, the sport's European governing body, to overturn Leeds United's defeat in the 1973 European cup winners' cup final.

Corbett, who represents Yorkshire and the Humber, has instigated the campaign and plans to petition Uefa next month, calling for an investigation into allegations of match-fixing surrounding United's 1-0 loss to AC Milan 26 years ago.

However, a Uefa spokesman said that according to its statutes it is unable to investigate cases which are more than 10 years old.

It also called on Corbett to produce fresh evidence of alleged match fixing.

Corbett says that despite Uefa's response he will continue to press ahead with his campaign and revealed that the online petition he launched a week ago on the issue has attracted some 11,000 signatures.

"It is an overwhelming response, quite incredible," he said. "More than 1000 signed within the first hour of it being launched.

"People, Leeds fans and non-Leeds fans, have been signing from all over the world. This shows the strength of feeling on this issue."

Corbett, a Liverpool fan, said he wanted the matter investigated because he regards it as a long-standing point of principle.

He is no newcomer when it comes to examining the administration and regulation of professional football.

Three years ago, Corbett was involved in the independent European football review carried out at Uefa's behest and designed to examine numerous areas of the sport and its business.

The issues discussed included the threat of corruption and match-fixing to football's integrity.

Uefa's review recommended that European institutions and governing bodies should "cooperate to the maximum extent possible... to detect and fight against criminal activities around football and in particular to deter match-fixing, fraud, money-laundering or any form of corrupt and criminal activity".

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