Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

“How could fans and clubs work together to improve security and fair play in football?”
– Patrick Vieira

“What areas of football matches could benefit from new technologies and how?”
– Rudi Völler

“How could the offence of penalty diving be punished after games?”
– Anders Frisk

The heat was on in Europe’s flagship club competition as we entered the final stages of the UEFA Champions League. The semi-final second legs came to the boil this week, with three English teams still involved. Manchester United took on AC Milan while Chelsea met fellow Premiership rivals Liverpool . In the end the dream of an all-English clash was not realised, with Liverpool booking a date with AC Milan to contest the final.

To celebrate the event, Yahoo! Answers has teamed up with three Feel Football legends to pose some topical and poignant questions to the Answers community. The three personalities posing questions are:

• Current Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira
• The German World Cup winning star Rudi Völler
• Former international referee Anders Frisk

Last week, the three of them asked some topical questions on Answers. In an age where every angle of every game is televised, boots are computer engineered and athlete’s diets scientifically monitored, Vieira’s question is timely. Part of what has made football known as the “beautiful game” is its flowing, organic qualities. Would technology ruin all the passion and tension? By contrast Rudi Völler’s question is perhaps timeless, as no one has ever cared for cheating in the game.

As a former international referee, Anders Frisk used to have to preside over players seeking unfair advantage, but on Answers he turns his attention to the coaches and their heightening of match atmosphere. All three will be asking further throughout the different phases of the competition, so be sure to look out for each of them for the chance to contribute your knowledge on the world’s game.

Known as the European Cup until 1992, the competition began on the 2nd March 1955. Real Madrid initially claimed the tournament as their own by winning the first five finals, and then adding further to their early victories in the 65/65, 97/98, 99/00 and 01/02 legs giving them a colossal total of nine wins in the history of the competition. It is an achievement rivalled by no other team thus far.

Uncle James asked the Answers community who had been the most successful English club in the tournament’s history, and HeLLboY rightly pointed out that after five wins in the cup, Liverpool’s record is enviable. They claimed four victories between 1977 and 1984, but their greatest moment nevertheless has to be their win against AC Milan in 2005 when they came back from three down to win the epic game on penalties. Just two years on, this final will be repeated again in 2007.

So as the teams prepared for the semi finals, the question on everyone’s lips, including Emma b’s was “will [it] be an all English champions league final?” As it turns out, it was not to be. One thing is certain however, that come May 23rd, Athens will be awash with fans of the beautiful game hoping that their team will be leaving the Greek capital with the much coveted UEFA silverware.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team