Vitoria Guimaraes and Benfica have appealed against Portuguese champions Porto's inclusion in the Champions League.

Porto, who won the competition in 2004 under Jose Mourinho, were kicked out of next season's tournament after they were found guilty of trying to bribe domestic referees during the 2003/04 campaign.

Had the ban stood, Vitoria would have gone straight into the group stages of the competition and their place in the preliminary rounds would have been taken by fourth-placed Benfica, but it was overturned by UEFA's appeals body pending a new hearing.

Vitoria, along with Benfica, have now taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and are vehemently denying allegations in Portugal that they are asking for favours from UEFA.

In a lengthy statement on their website which attacked media coverage of the appeal, the club insisted the action would not damage their relationship with Porto.

"Vitoria Sport Clube still has an excellent relationship with FC Porto, which has never and will never impede it from looking after its interests," the statement read.

CAS announced that an appeal had been made by Benfica and Vitoria but only revealed that the two clubs have asked for the hearing to take place as quickly as possible so any decision could come into effect in time for the draw for the Champions League preliminary round which takes place on August 1.

If no ruling has been made by then, Porto will take their place in Europe's premier club competition and if a ban is eventually decided, it would be for the 2009/10 season.

"I can confirm that there will be an appeal," CAS Secretary General Matthieu Reeb told PA Sport. "But as we've only just got the complaint I can't say any more at present.

"We've only just seen it so we have no idea what it exactly says, we don't know when we'll have the hearing, when we'll listen to the appeals or anything.

"We'll have to study it and then we'll know more.

"I can't say anything about whether the draw could be delayed, as we have not had the chance to really study the complaint."