Milan get green light for EuropeSerie A giants AC Milan will compete in this season's Champions League, UEFA have announced on Wednesday.
However, the European governing body made it clear that they decided to admit Milan only because of legal concerns and expressed their "deep concern" at the match-fixing scandal that had jeopardised the Italian club's participation.
The Rossoneri were one of four clubs who had been punished in Italy in the recent match-fixing affair but were the only side implicated who, following points deductions and other penalties, were still qualified for European competition in the 2006-07 campaign.
UEFA then met to decide whether to admit the club into this season's edition of a competition they have won six times - only Real Madrid, with nine wins, have done better.
Milan will join the competition in the third qualifying round.
The statement from UEFA made it clear the body was admitting Milan into next year's competition with great reservations - the Rossoneri will start the forthcoming Serie A season with an eight-point deduction.
A statement issued by UEFA read: "The UEFA Emergency Panel, being competent to decide on the matter, came to the conclusion that it had no choice but to admit AC Milan for the UEFA club competitions 2006-07 for formal reasons because of an insufficient legal basis in the regulations which would allow not admitting AC Milan under specific circumstances.
"The UEFA Emergency Panel made a clear statement to the club that 'this admission is far from being given with the utmost conviction. AC Milan takes the advantage of the fact that UEFA lacks of legal grounds to refuse the club's admission. In this respect, AC Milan is herewith informed that the necessary adaptations will be made to the regulations concerned. The UEFA Emergency Panel is deeply concerned that AC Milan has created the impression of being involved in the improper influencing of the regular course of matches in the Italian football championship'.
"From the statement of AC Milan the panel concluded that 'the club has obviously not yet properly perceived the troubles it is in and the damage it already caused to European Football. UEFA and the club's opponents will observe with the utmost attention the future attitude of AC Milan around UEFA club competition fixtures. UEFA will not hesitate to intervene severely, should AC Milan be involved in any activities aiming to arrange improperly the outcome of a match'."
Milan will face either Red Star Belgrade or Cork City in the Champions League third qualifying round over two legs on August 8 and 23.