Glitter of European glory obscures Milan's domestic shame

ROME, Apr 30 (Reuters) Shamed in the Serie A match-fixing scandal less than 12 months ago, AC Milan are just two wins away from claiming the biggest prize in European football.

A victory over Manchester United at the San Siro on Wednesday would send the Italian giants into the Champions League final in Athens on May 23 - the 10th time they will have reached the final of Europe's top club competition in their history.

And with a record of six wins in their previous nine finals, it would take a brave man to bet a fortune against them lifting the trophy against either Chelsea or Liverpool.

The current buoyant mood around AC Milan is a far cry from the gloom that surrounded them last July, when they were one of four top-flight sides -- alongside Juventus, Lazio, and Fiorentina -- found guilty of attempting to rig games during the 2004-05 season.

Initially thrown out of the Champions League by an Italian sporting tribunal, they were restored to the competition on appeal.

When the Italian Football Federation submitted their name as one of Italy's four Champions League representatives, UEFA was forced to admit it did not have enough legal grounds to refuse the team entry.

The organisation said Milan's admission was ''far from being given with the utmost conviction'' and warned the club that it would intervene severely if there were further match-fixing allegations, but the statement only revealed how its bark was worse than its bite.

SUFFERED ENOUGH Milan's fans would argue their club was not as deeply involved in the match-fixing scandal as Juventus, and has already suffered enough this season.

The eight-point penalty they have carried in Serie A this season nipped their title hopes in the bud, though they have recovered well enough to climb to third and are looking strong candidates for a place in next season's Champions League.

Others, however, have questioned Milan's right to compete in Europe.

''Some people may have a different opinion on the matter, but I seriously don't understand why Milan were allowed to participate to the Champions League after all that happened last summer'', said Inter Milan's French midfielder Patrick Vieira last week.

Milan's players have rarely responded to the attacks.

Clarence Seedorf was an exception last week, when he tried to pump up his teammates ahead of the return match against Manchester United by portraying them as the innocent victims of Italy's sports justice system.

''The fans must get right behind us on Wednesday. When Manchester United's players come out on the pitch, I want them to sense our pride and the way we feel we're getting our revenge at the moment,'' he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

''I never want to forget what happened at the start of this season. There were people who didn't want us in Serie A or the Champions League.

''We have had many difficulties getting to this point and now here we are, just one step from our objective.'' REUTERS BJR VC1725