Uefa have told Tottenham that they will not be handed a
Champions League reprieve if Arsenal win the tournament.
Last season Liverpool were given a back-door entry when they won
Europe's top prize, but there were no rules in place to dictate
whether the holders should be granted automatic entry.
At the time, Everton - who finished fourth - were left sweating
over their place, but, in the end, Uefa relented and gave Liverpool
special dispensation to defend their crown.
To avoid a repeat of that, Uefa confirmed before the start of the
season that any place for the champions - who did not qualify via
the league, would then be taken from their association's already
allotted allocation.
Therefore, should Arsenal win the Champions League, the side who
finishes fourth will not be allowed entry - which looks like being
Spurs.
"I am afraid I have to tell Spurs that there is no alternative,"
Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson told Reuters.
"This time around, we are prepared. We have put the rules in place
and those rules will stand.
"Of course on the pitch, Spurs will feel hard done by and it is a
difficult decision, but England will only have four teams and
Arsenal will be invited back if they are champions."
