UEFA Cup - Scotland given extra Europa place

Eurosport - Thu, 21 May 17:09:00 2009

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has welcomed official confirmation from UEFA that Scotland have earned a sixth European place via the Fair Play League.

FOOTBALL 2008 Scottish FA Gordon Smith - 0

UEFA published their full table, which puts Scotland in third place behind Norway and Denmark, with all three countries earning an extra spot in Europe.

In a statement released to PA Sport, Smith (pictured) said; "It is great news, a tremendous reflection on the game in Scotland."

Motherwell lead St Mirren and Hibernian in the SFA's own fair play table and the top team at the end of the season will take part in the first qualifying round of the new Europa League on July 2, with the second leg a week later.

The SFA take into account a range of criteria, including yellow and red cards, crowd behaviour, the actions of club officials and match reports by SPL delegates.

Smith added: "Winning the extra place in Europe shows what fair play can achieve and sends out a strong message to thousands of boys and girls who play football in Scotland. We now have six teams representing Scotland in Europe next season, more than ever before.

"While the recognition is good, it is vitally important that the teams taking part get the right results so we can continue to improve our national co-efficient.

"We won`t be able to announce who is getting the place until the end of the season. However, we will keep in touch with all the clubs who are in the running so they can at least put provisional plans in place. One thing is for sure, for one Scottish club it is going to be a very short close season."

Falkirk have already qualified for the Europa League after reaching the Homecoming Scottish Cup final, while Hearts, Dundee United and Aberdeen are battling for the two spots available through the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic and Rangers will take part in the Champions League, with the SPL champions going straight into the group stages.

PA Sport / Eurosport

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. Well done to Scottish football. They have had the guts­ to bring the stronger teams together and adjust the SPL­ to squeeze out the cream. Two european finals in the­ past decade and now six colourful teams showing the­ rest how to play football without the millions of dosh­ behind them. Italy, Spain and England do tend to have­ the same teams at the top end of thier respective­ leagues. Wouldn't Real Madrid prefer to play­ Barcelona four times to help decide thier championship?

    From cloud95, on Fri 19 Jun 10:58AM

  2. well done the bairns , 1 semi , 1 final 2 come ­ and another season in the spl wot a gr8 game this is­ lol
    nice 1 yogi and co .... keep the faith .

    From ALLAN H, on Sun 24 May 8:05PM

  3. Why make fun of the spl? its great and consistent-we­ should respect that.

    From Naved N, on Sun 17 May 1:42PM

  4. Point 1 you are a bit ahead of yourself aren't you.­ Dundee United haven't qualified yet.

    From sf, on Wed 13 May 10:56AM

  5. cottage runner ????

    From brian d, on Tue 12 May 3:52PM

  6. well done well

    From brian d, on Tue 12 May 3:22PM

  7. i never knew if you finished fourth you got in to­ europe too.is that right or a mistake.

    From brian d, on Tue 12 May 3:21PM

  8. C'mon the Gers

    From css, on Tue 12 May 6:43AM

  9. awww man listen to that clown celtic = anti football­ lmao rangers in the CL & Uefa cup :S play for­ penalties ? HAIL HAIL !!!! rangers = scotlands shame ;)

    From danny_cairney1, on Mon 11 May 11:38PM

  10. Cottage runner Strachan is a wee bit quiet.

    From Paul T, on Mon 11 May 10:39PM

  11. woops sorry but i actually meant kevgibson point 8

    From HELEN, on Mon 11 May 9:40PM

  12. well done 5 , here was me thinking this was about the­ fair play and all the other comments are just bigoted­ rubbish. I hope Motherwell get the chance in Europe as­ they have tried to clean up on fouls and unsportsman­ behaviour this year.
    p.s I actually support one of the­ big two

    From HELEN, on Mon 11 May 9:36PM

  13. point 3 thats a good one, celtic play football in­ Europe? get a grip you sponge, teams that play the­ football get far on in the CL, can't remember the­ last time you lot went far in Europe! CELTIC= ANTI­ FOOTBALL

    From Gary S, on Mon 11 May 9:08PM

  14. number 5 you are so right

    From Jack, on Mon 11 May 8:45PM

  15. huns this tims this shut up you twats there more too­ scotish fitba than you ball bags

    From kevgibson28, on Mon 11 May 7:47PM

  16. F.u.k rangers nearly scored whithout trying with the­ whittaker cross that hit the post. Thats how easy it­ was

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Mon 11 May 5:05PM

  17. Point 3! If Celtic try to play football in Europe, then­ how come they don't have any away wins in the­ champions league?

    From Adz, on Mon 11 May 5:00PM

  18. Well just for starters ,how about the one saved off the­ line by your eight goalkeeper defense , Nakamura having­ his free kick touched over the bar , or how about a­ obvious penalty when Whittaker took out McDonald after­ Malony play him through (miss that one not surprised­ so did the Ref ).Vennegoor of Hesselinks header once­ again saved. Wont go on , don't want to go on ,just­ making a point that even when we play @#$% we play to­ win . Like i said your only bit of excitement is one­ game when you manage to get one over on Celtic !!

    From Eug, on Mon 11 May 4:44PM

  19. Rangers were the only team wanting to score on sat. How­ many shots did celtic have?

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Mon 11 May 4:01PM

  20. Got more chance of qualifying then you bunch of donkeys­ , your a one horse pony team , play negative football­ and hope for a lucky break .your only bit of excitement­ in a season is to get one over on the three time­ champions ,who actually go to Europe and play football­ :Shame on who ? cop yourself on man !!

    From Eug, on Mon 11 May 3:57PM
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