Pompey last competed in Europe during the 2008/2009 season

Portsmouth will not be allowed to play in next season's Europa League after a joint decision by the Football Association and Premier League.

The cash-strapped club had appealed to the FA asking for a Uefa licence to compete in Europe - despite missing the deadline for applications.

Portsmouth would have qualified for the competition if they were to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final on 15 May.

The team finishing seventh in the Premier League will now qualify.

Pompey, facing debts of �119m, were not in a position to file their accounts in time because the club is in administration - a criterion for a Uefa club licence.

A place in the Europa League is handed to the winners of the FA Cup, while two other Europa League places are handed to the fifth-placed team in the Premier League and the winners of the League Cup.

Yet with Manchester United already winning that trophy, a subsequent spot will be handed to the sixth-placed team in the league, while seventh place will also qualify.

It's wrong for the fans that they should not be allowed to support their club in Europe next season Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou

Uefa delegates its licensing scheme to national associations, leaving the FA to decide whether Portsmouth could prove to Uefa that the business was solvent by 31 May.

However, after deliberating with the Premier League, English football's governing body opted against endorsing Portsmouth's application.

"The FA and Premier League have confirmed to the administrators of Portsmouth Football Club that they shall not consider any late application for granting of a Uefa Club Licence for the 2010-11 season," read a joint statement.

The main issues were there should be no late payments outstanding to other clubs, or to staff and players.

Already relegated from the Premier League, Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou believes the ruling is unfair on the club's long-suffering supporters.

"We have spent a long time going through all the necessary steps and we had hoped to make an application next week," he said.

"We felt that we would do our bit and that it would be up to the FA and the Premier League to do theirs.

606: DEBATE There is no way that the FA could nominate Portsmouth for a place in Europe with the extent of the debt now public Penfolds11

"It's wrong for the fans that they should not be allowed to support their club in Europe next season.

"Last week they were asking us to prepare an application and now they are saying they won't consider one, but that's not going to deter us.

"I know our chances are pretty remote if the Premier League and FA say they won't consider it but we are still going to explore all possibilities for the club.

"We will go to Uefa and explore every avenue before we admit defeat.

"We are still a member of the Premier League for a few more weeks at least and they should be championing us."

Liverpool are currently in seventh place in the Premier League, but could conceivably win the competition this season, automatically qualifying for next year.

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