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<P class=big>Fifa have confirmed that both Benfica and Porto could be banned from this season's UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Celtic could all benefit from the decision as they have been drawn alongside the Portuguese clubs in this season's group stages.
The threat of expulsion is hanging over all Portuguese clubs because of a dispute in the SuperLiga.
Gil Vicente have taken action against the Portuguese Football Association (FPF) after they were relegated for going through a civil court in order to get permission for Angolan international Mateus to play.
Now Fifa have set a deadline of September 14 for the FPF to resolve the issue otherwise both Portugal's national side and its senior clubs will be banned from all international competition.
"There is a possibility of this [a ban] existing," said a Fifa spokesman. "There is an issue in Portugal with the club Gil Vicente, who are in dispute with the Portuguese Football Association.
"Because of this we have asked the Portuguese Football Association to solve the problem internally or with the sporting governing bodies.
"They have until September 14 to resolve the matter but after the deadline we would submit the case to the emergency committee and they would review the matter.
"A ban is an option and when a federation is banned there are no international matches to be played by that nation and the clubs so that would affect the Champions League."
Should both Benfica and Porto be banned then two of the Champions League groups could indeed feature just three teams.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Celtic could all benefit from the decision as they have been drawn alongside the Portuguese clubs in this season's group stages.
The threat of expulsion is hanging over all Portuguese clubs because of a dispute in the SuperLiga.
Gil Vicente have taken action against the Portuguese Football Association (FPF) after they were relegated for going through a civil court in order to get permission for Angolan international Mateus to play.
Now Fifa have set a deadline of September 14 for the FPF to resolve the issue otherwise both Portugal's national side and its senior clubs will be banned from all international competition.
"There is a possibility of this [a ban] existing," said a Fifa spokesman. "There is an issue in Portugal with the club Gil Vicente, who are in dispute with the Portuguese Football Association.
"Because of this we have asked the Portuguese Football Association to solve the problem internally or with the sporting governing bodies.
"They have until September 14 to resolve the matter but after the deadline we would submit the case to the emergency committee and they would review the matter.
"A ban is an option and when a federation is banned there are no international matches to be played by that nation and the clubs so that would affect the Champions League."
Should both Benfica and Porto be banned then two of the Champions League groups could indeed feature just three teams.