England win fair play league for extra Uefa Cup spot

Manchester City may be rewarded with European football next year

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Friday, 09, May 2008 03:14

There will be an additional English club in the Uefa Cup next season after the results of the European governing body's fair play league were announced.

England finished ahead of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Spain and France, who will all be entered into a draw for two further spots in the first qualifying round of the Uefa Cup.

The fair play league standings are based on a number of criteria in officially sanctioned Uefa matches, both at club and international level.

"The coefficient is based on criteria such as positive play, respect of the opponent, respect of the referee, behaviour of the crowd and of team officials, as well as cautions and dismissals," Uefa confirmed.

The body's rules stipulate that the additional club from England must be the top-placed team in the domestic fair play league who have not already qualified for European competition.

Carling Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur are currently top of the standings, with Champions League qualifiers Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in second, third and fourth.

This means the additional place is likely to go to Manchester City, who are currently fifth in the standings.

Everton look favourites to qualify for the Uefa Cup through achieving fifth place in the Premier League this season, so City's nearest challengers to the spot are relegation-threatened Fulham.

However, as Uefa has stated, "even a club which has been relegated to the second-highest domestic division could qualify for the Uefa Cup as a result of its exemplary fair play conduct during the domestic championship".

It remains unclear if the Premier League is likely to use the fair play table as it currently stands, or wait until the final two league matches of the season are registered.