• Europa League

No European prospects for Pompey

Hermann Hreidarsson scored Pompey's third goal against Heereveen in December 2008 © Getty Images

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It appears that Portsmouth have no of chance playing in the Europa League next season, even if they qualify by right through the FA Cup.

A report in the Portsmouth News, which the paper claims has been confirmed by both the Premier League and Football Association, says Pompey have not applied for a UEFA club license for 2010-11. Without the licence a club is not permitted to play in European competition.

It means that unless Fulham reach the FA Cup final, it is highly likely that seventh place in the Premier League will earn a Europa League berth for next season.

Clubs were required to file applications by March 1, but with Pompey in financial turmoil they were unable to submit fully complete and audited reports.

The UEFA club license was introduced ahead of the 2004-05 season and is based on a series of defined quality standards. These must be met to be admitted to any of the UEFA club competitions.

The UEFA website states: "These minimum requirements cover many matters including ... legal declarations, audited accounts, settlement of debts, additional financial disclosures and financial budgets with supporting assumptions, among the 34 specific criteria. These common minimum standards are contributing to improving the business credibility of club operations and act as an engine on the road to better transparency and governance of clubs and national associations."

Portsmouth complied with the regulations in 2008, meaning they were able to compete in their first, and only, European campaign after winning the FA Cup that year. They failed to get out of their UEFA Cup group, but enjoyed a memorable 2-2 draw with AC Milan at Fratton Park. Their only victory was a 3-0 home win over Heerenveen after they had already been eliminated.

Had Portsmouth beaten Fulham or Tottenham in their FA Cup semi-final on the weekend of April 10, then they would almost certainly have qualified for the Europa League, win or lose.

Manchester United's victory in the Carling Cup final means the sixth place in the Premier League is now guaranteed a place in the Europa League. With Chelsea and Aston Villa playing in the other semi, it seems very likely Villa, as well as the title challengers from west London, will finish in the top six. That means the FA Cup runners-up would be handed the European spot.

Portsmouth, doomed to certain relegation once the Premier League rubber stamp their nine-point penalty for entering administration, would not have become the first second tier side to play in Europe via the FA Cup. As recently as 2004-05, Millwall played in the UEFA Cup after losing to Manchester United in Cardiff, thus gaining a place as runners-up with United already in the Champions League.

With Portsmouth now ineligible, the Europa League berth will revert to the Premier League should they reach the final. The news will give Everton renewed hope of a return to the competition after bowing out to Sporting Lisbon in the second round this term.

One of the form teams of the moment, Everton are closing on the top seven after a horror start to the campaign, and have Merseyside rivals Liverpool in their sights. While Villa have played two games fewer than Everton, the Toffees have a game in hand on Liverpool and trail by six points.

And Birmingham City, with only one point less than Everton and an additional game in hand, will also harbour hopes for a late push. Birmingham and Everton meet at St Andrew's on Saturday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.