Nyon, Switzerland  - Europe's governing football body UEFA on Monday announced that Norway, Denmark and Scotland had each been granted an extra slot in the first qualifying round of next season's Europa League after topping the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking.

In a statement issued by UEFA, the organisation said that Norway topped the rankings, based on all UEFA competition matches played at club and national-team levels between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009.

"The three associations that are allocated an additional UEFA Europa League place will be entitled to enter the club that has won the domestic top-division fair play competition.

"If this club has already qualified for a UEFA competition, the second-placed team in the domestic fair play competition may be entered and, should they also have already qualified, the third- placed side would be considered and so forth."

"The Fair Play assessments are made by the official UEFA delegates on criteria such as positive play, respect for the opponent, respect for the referee, behaviour of the crowd and of team officials, as well as cautions and dismissals."

UEFA said that even a relegated club could play in the Europe League, if they topped the national Fair Play ranking and held a mandatory UEFA club license.(dpa)