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No support for play-off idea

04 Mar 2010 - 15:36:00

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Premier League chairmen have voted against the introduction of a play-off for fourth place and the final Champions League spot.

The idea had been mooted earlier in the year as a way of spicing up the race for a European place but, at a Premier League board meeting on Thursday, chairmen rejected the opportunity to look at the proposal any further at this stage.

The idea would have seen the Premier League's top-three teams all qualify automatically for European football's premier competition with the sides finishing from fourth to seventh playing off in a mini-knockout competition.

Any change would have needed the agreement of at least 14 of the 20 top-flight clubs, but Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea were all reportedly against the idea.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "The main topic of discussion was the Champions League play-off for that fourth qualifying place.

"We gave it a lot of discussion, a lot of detail, a lot of data. But there was not enough support to take the idea forward, so we won't be discussing that proposal any further."