Porto's rivals appeal against Champions League reprieve

GENEVA, June 27 (Reuters) - UEFA's decision to let Porto back into next season's Champions League will be examined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following a challenge by league rivals Benfica and Vitoria Guimaraes, CAS said on Friday.

The court received an appeal from the two clubs asking it to issue a ruling by the end of July at the latest.

The Portuguese champions were originally thrown out of the competition by UEFA's disciplinary body earlier this month after domestic soccer authorities fined and stripped them of six league points for allegedly bribing league referees.

UEFA's own appeals body later annulled the decision, arguing that the proceedings in Portugal had not yet been completed.

No Portuguese clubs are involved in the draw for the Champions League's first two qualifying rounds which is due to take place in Nyon on Tuesday.

The draw for the third qualifying round, which does involve Guimaraes, is scheduled to be held on August 1.

Benfica failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing fourth behind Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Guimaraes, but would be next in line if Porto were thrown back out.

Guimaraes would also benefit by securing an automatic place in the competition instead of having to qualify.

(Writing by Mark Ledsom in Vienna; editing by Padraic Halpin)