Apoel FC today earned a place in the group stages of the Europa League… and they have Irish Times football correspondent Emmet Malone to thank for it.
Malone was in Monaco this morning to cover the draw for the Europa League group stages, which will take place a little later this afternoon.
Before that could happen, however, Uefa had to decide who would be the final team in the competition after Fenerbahce’s dismissal from the Champions League by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier this week meant that there was one place up for grabs in the group stages, to be awarded to one of the sides eliminated in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League.
In the interest of fairness, UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino invited a journalist from a country without representation in the competition to make the draw, resulting in Emmet Malone from The Irish Times taking to the stage and drawing APOEL out of the bowl.
χόχοι εάν έχετε παράπονο μπορείτε να επικοινωνήσετε με τον Mr.Emmet Malone από την The Irish Times… pic.twitter.com/iw0z1F76df
— apoel.net (@apoelnet) August 30, 2013
Obviously, it was a big deal for Apoel to secure a place in Europe that they thought was gone for another season at least and fans of the club were keen to show their appreciation for the man responsible on Twitter, with Malone re-tweeting a series of positive messages that came his way earlier today.
@emmetmalone Mr.Malone thank you very much for the draw today. God bless you! Greetings from #cyprus and #apoelfans
— RolandoE (@RolandoEvns) August 30, 2013
@emmetmalone THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APOEL FC — Eftychios Yiaxis (@EftychiosY) August 30, 2013
Thank you @emmetmalone! When are you coming to Cyprus? We’d love to take you out! 🙂 #APOEL @apoelfcofficial — Phoebus (@phoebuscy) August 30, 2013
@emmetmalone Dear Emmet Malone! I don’t know you but I would like to thank you! You made more than 20.000 people today happy! Only APOEL! — Alexis Chrysaphis (@AlexisChrysaphi) August 30, 2013
Mr @emmetmalone, I LOVE YOU!!! God bless YOU and everyone you love. — Hara Loizidou (@APOELLENE) August 30, 2013
Today I’m opening an Irish Pub called “Malone’s”, to honour the great @emmetmalone. #apoel — The original deuce (@amstercy) August 30, 2013
@emmetmalone You do know at this moment you are the most popular figure for APOEL fans! — Marios Hadjistyllis (@Mariospacers) August 30, 2013
@emmetmalone Mr Emmet Malone A BIG THANKS AND FULL RESPECT FROM APOEL FANS!!!
— APOEL (@apoel_fc) August 30, 2013
@emmetmalone if you are the guy who drew #Apoel out in draw to replace Fenerbace, you are now a bona fide hero in #cyprus.
— Lucas Chrysanthou (@ImpressionUK) August 30, 2013
@emmetmalone Sir you have no idea how many would like to shake your hand, buy you a beer or if you like send you home made halloumi cheese
— asproullis (@asproullis) August 30, 2013
Who’d have thought it meant so much 🙂
— emmet malone (@emmetmalone) August 30, 2013
Safe to say Emmet will never have to buy a pint in Nicosia again.
