The Football Association insists it has no plans to ask the Premier League to reduce the number of teams from 20 to 18, despite a newspaper report to the contrary.

The Times suggested on Saturday that FA chairman Greg Dyke was preparing to meet with the executive chairman of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, to discuss the subject.

The FA is concerned that the England national team has suffered over the years because of the success of the Premier League and is looking at ways of improving the side's performances in international tournaments.

Germany's Bundesliga has 18 teams but an FA spokesman says it is not seeking talks with the Premier League to ask them to follow suit.



A spokesman said: "The FA has no plans to call for a reduction in the number of teams in the Premier League.

A newspaper report on Saturday suggested FA chairman Greg Dyke was about to meet with Premier League officials over talks to reduce its size from 20 teams to 18

"Of course, we continue to have discussions with the Premier League about positive ways in which we can work together to help the England team and develop the game in this country."

Since winning the World Cup in 1966, England have only reached the semi-finals of three major tournaments - 1968 European Nations Cup, 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996.