Norway lead Fair Play league

Norway head the provisional UEFA Fair Play rankings, based on all UEFA competition matches played at club and national team level between 1 June and 31 March 2005.

UEFA Cup place
If Norway can hold on to top spot until the Fair Play competition closes on 31 May, they will receive an additional place in the first qualifying round of the 2005/06 UEFA Cup. Behind the leaders, several countries are in contention for the two other UEFA Cup berths on offer via the Fair Play table.

Eight-point average
When the rankings are finalised at the end of the season, all remaining national associations who have attained an average of eight points or more will go into a draw. This will determine which two countries will be entitled, together with the outright winner, to enter an additional team for next season's UEFA Cup.

Various criteria
UEFA's Fair Play rankings only take into account national associations that have played the required number of games. A cut-off point of 25 matches has been applied. The Fair Play coefficient is based on criteria such as positive play, respect for opponents and the referee, the behaviour of team officials and supporters as well as cautions and dismissals.

Domestic winners
The three associations allocated an additional UEFA Cup place will be entitled to enter the winner of their domestic Fair Play competition. If this club have already qualified for a UEFA club tournament, the second-placed team in the domestic competition may be entered and, should they too have qualified, the third-placed side would be considered, and so on.

Relegation consolation
It is even possible for a team that have been relegated to the second division to qualify for the UEFA Cup as a result of their exemplary Fair Play during the domestic championship as long as this team is awarded a UEFA licence. Sweden were the outright 2004 winners, giving Östers IF a UEFA Cup berth while Armenia and Ukraine won places through the draw, putting forward FC MIKA and FC Illychivets Mariupil respectively.