Scudamore belives the Premier League is being harshly judged

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has rejected chairman Dave Richards' comments regarding the number of foreigners playing in England.

Richards claimed that a lack of English players in the top flight has damaged the national team and led to the demise of former England boss Steve McClaren.

McClaren was sacked after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

But Scudamore said: "I would absolutely refute that the Premier League cost Steve McClaren his job."

Scudamore's stance is that England's non-appearance at the tournament in Austria and Switzerland, which is currently underway, had nothing to do with the foreigners in the Premier League.

There is no point in me standing up and trying to apologise for what Dave has said. He is distraught Richard Scudamore

And he hinted that the blame lies with the England players who failed to secure the point they needed against Croatia at Wembley last year in order to qualify.

England lost the match 3-2, having clawed their way back from 2-0 down.

Scudamore added: "It is appalling that we are not at Euro 2008.

"November 21st was a horrible night. At 2-2 against Croatia we had done what we had to do.

"But there is only so much the Premier League can be held responsible for."

Scudamore also made reference to the fact that Manchester United and Chelsea contested the Champions League final this season, and suggested there are plenty of top-class English footballers.

"There are 220 international players eligible for England and we've just played a Champions League final where 10 players were English, " he said.

Scudamore's views seem to be in direct contrast with those held by Richards.

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In a speech at the Third Dubai International Sports Conference, held in the United Arab Emirates principality at the end of May, Richards apparently claimed the Premier League was "hurting the national side".

"I would probably go as far as to say the Premier League has probably cost Steve McClaren him his job," he added.

However, Scudamore has suggested Richards regretted his statements.

"There is no point in me standing up and trying to apologise for what Dave has said. He is distraught," he said.