No seedings for Euro 2004 play-offs

UEFA today decided there will be no seeding for the play-offs to qualify for the Euro 2004 finals.

The Republic of Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland could all be involved in the play-offs, depending on results, but if so it will be an open draw.

UEFA communications director Mike Lee said: “The UEFA executive committee decided unanimously to maintain the system of no seeding for the play-off draw procedure.

“The committee took the view that this procedure is the simplest and fairest for the play-offs.”

Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor has praised UEFA's decision to keep the Euro 2004 play-offs unseeded.

The Scots are hoping to take part in those in November and will do so if they beat Lithuania at Hampden next month and Iceland fail to win in Germany.

It had been feared the draw would be weighted in favour of the bigger nations with large television audiences, with England, Spain, Italy and Germany all possible play-off participants.

But UEFA’s confirmation of their ‘no seeding’ policy has delighted Taylor.

“This is the right decision by UEFA, and shows that they have been guided by the principles of fair play,” he said.

“Our own efforts, and the support of those who backed our stance in favour of an open draw, have paid off.”

The draw will be made in Frankfurt on Monday, October 13 and the play-off dates are November 15 and 19.

There was no seeding for the Euro 2000 play-offs.