Football Talk - Champions League play-off plan rejected - 04/03/10
Plans for a play-off for England's fourth Champions League place have failed after Premier League chairmen voted against the proposal on Thursday.
The idea would have seen clubs finishing in positions four to seven playing off for the right to enter the final qualifying round of the Champions League. The proposal drew a mixed reaction from top-flight bosses, with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez completely against it, but Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill described it as "interesting" and one that "people might go for".
Any change would have needed the agreement of at least 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs, but there would not have been any changes for three years, anyway, as the next TV deal is in place. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed the proposals were rejected and it is understood that concerns over an extended league schedule were a factor in the decision.
"The main topic of discussion was the prospect of a Champions League play-off for that fourth qualifying place," Scudamore told Sky Sports News. "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."
