• Champions League

Blunder costs Milan youngster Champions League spot

M'Baye Niang will not feature in the group phase of the Champions League for AC Milan © Getty Images

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AC Milan youngster M'Baye Niang has missed out on a spot in the club's 25-man squad for its Champions League group stage due to a paper-work blunder by a club official.

Milan finalised their squad for the early stages of Europe's premier competition on Tuesday with the club hoping to push past last season's failure in the round of 16.

However, Massimiliano Allegri's men will have to do without the 18-year-old Niang throughout the group stage after fellow striker Stephan El Shaarawy was named as an 'A list' player.

According to UEFA regulations, El Shaarawy could have been selected as a 'B list' player but Milan director, Umberto Gandini, placed the Italy international in the wrong category, forcing Niang to watch from the sidelines as the side face Barcelona, Ajax and Celtic.

"Umberto Gandini, director of the AC Milan organisation, assumes the responsibility for the error in the compilation of the Champions League lists for not having taken into account in the drafting of such legislation that UEFA allows the inclusion of players born after January 1, 1992 with at least two years of experience at the club between the ages of 15 and 21 in the B List," a statement on the club's official website read.

"Umberto Gandini regrets this error and apologises to all parties concerned, as well as professionally to the Rossoneri fans."

AC Milan begin their European campaign against Celtic at the San Siro on September 18.

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