Eircom League (cork City) have a chance of uefa cup spot
Date: May 14, 2003
From: UEFA Internet article
Remark: Text only, see UEFA document for original lay-out.
English clubs eye Fair Play prize
Copyright © 2003 UEFA
Twelve nations are currently in the running for one of three extra
UEFA Cup places on offer from Europe's Fair Play rankings with
England best placed to benefit.
Year-long assessment
UEFA has been assessing each member association's ranking, based
on the fair play performances of their international and club teams,
since 1 June last year and will continue to do so until the UEFA
Champions League final on Wednesday 28 May.
How it works
UEFA identifies six criteria for the evaluation of the fair play
score - red and yellow cards, positive play, respect of the opponent,
respect of the referee, behaviour of team officials and behaviour
of the crowd. A system of points is then given for each of these
criteria, and an association coefficient is calculated on the basis
of the number of matches played by teams from the association.
Cut-off point
The association finishing top of the ranking is automatically given
a place in the UEFA Cup. All the other nations finishing with a
coefficient above eight points will enter a draw to determine the
other two nations to be given an extra UEFA Cup place.
England in pole
The latest check on the rankings, up to and including 31 March, saw
England lead the way of the 46 member associations currently eligible.
To make the Fair Play ranking, an association must have been involved
in at least 24 national team and European club matches.
Highest-ranked nations
The English FA leads with 8.234 points. The other eleven nations
with a rating currently higher than eight are Sweden, France,
Finland, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland, Denmark,
Slovakia, Norway and Belgium.
Domestic winners
While UEFA runs its own table, each association has its own Fair
Play table for its respective clubs. The three successful nations
are then invited to give their extra UEFA Cup place to the
highest-placed team in their domestic Fair Play rankings who have
not already qualified for European competition in 2003/04.
City hopeful
For example, although the Premiership rankings will not be confirmed
until later this week, Manchester City FC could capitalise in
England. Before last Sunday's final matches, they were fifth behind
Manchester United FC, Newcastle United FC, Liverpool FC and Chelsea
FC but all four have already qualified for European competition.
Last year's winners
The 2002/03 UEFA Cup saw extra places given to teams from Norway,
England and Czech Republic. Norway topped the Fair Play table meaning
SK Brann were granted an automatic place, while Ipswich Town FC and
Sigma SK Olomouc profited from the draw. As in Ipswich's case, it
is possible for a team to be relegated from their top flight and
still take their place.
Draw date
This year's Fair Play draw to determine the two successful nations
winning extra places in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup, aside from the automatic
place given to the top association, will take place at the beginning
of June. The exact date and location have yet to be confirmed.
