UEFA's appeals body announced today that the decision to exclude the Portuguese champions from next season's Champions League would be overturned pending a new hearing, after it was revealed that new evidence had come to light.

The case will now return to the UEFA's disciplinary committee - who took the original decision to exclude Porto - to hear additional evidence from Benfica and Guimaraes, two clubs who would seemingly stand to benefit from Porto's non-participation.

Vitoria, who finished third in last season's Portuguese SuperLiga, will enter the Champions League group stage should Porto be excluded, while fourth-placed Benfica will be included in the qualifying round of Europe's elite competition instead of playing in the UEFA Cup.

However, while the decision may seem to be a setback for the pair, Benfica representative Correia was upbeat following the announcement.

"This decision is favourable to Benfica's pretensions," he was quoted as saying in Portuguese newspaper Record.

"The club should have been heard in the first hearing and they weren't.

"As we weren't asked, we didn't attend. The trial today goes back to where it began."

Vitoria's representative, Goncalo Lobo Xavier, was less positive as he described the decision as "neither a defeat nor a victory" for those involved.

He also called on UEFA to end the matter quickly.

"This is very important because we have never played in the Champions League," he also told Record.

"It's not a defeat nor a victory. The appeals committee understood that the decision was not properly founded because Benfica had not been heard.

"UEFA should not wait for the decision of the Justice Council. UEFA should give their own decision and soon as the draw for the competition is getting closer."

A new hearing will be held next week where the two clubs, along with Porto and the Portuguese federation, will give evidence.

The appeal process must be concluded by August 1 when the draw is made for the Champions League third qualifying round.

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