The plan was for clubs finishing fourth to seventh to play-off for England’s last Champions League spot.
League executives delivered a feasibility study to the clubs on Thursday in which the practical difficulties of fitting the additional matches into the crowded end-of-season programme was made clear.
These logistical difficulties, as well as concerns about the integrity of a competition where league positions are decided over 38 games led to the idea being abandoned.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were all predictably opposed, and the strong performance of Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa in the race for fourth this season also eroded support. Fulham and Birmingham are also understood to have spoken against the plan at Thursday’s meeting.
Asked to vote on a proposal for the League to further explore the options, the clubs voted 11-9 in favour, short of the 14-6 majority required for any measure to be passed.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore confirmed there was “not enough support” for the proposal.
West Ham chairman David Gold said there was considerable support for the idea but the logistical obstacles were insurmountable.
“It was just a physical thing, finding time in the calendar,” said Gold. “The clubs that would be involved in a play-off could also be involved in the FA Cup and Champions League, so it just could not be done.
“But there was a feeling in the room that a play-off could make the league more exciting and bring more clubs the possibility of getting into Europe.”
Meanwhile Portsmouth will have to wait until a High Court hearing later this month before the Premier League considers granting any concessions to ease their financial plight.
Administrator Andrew Andronikou met the League board on Thursday to discuss his request that the club be allowed to sell players and loan them back outside the transfer window.
The proposal is highly unlikely to be allowed, but no decision will be taken until the High Court has ruled on a challenge from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over the legality of the administration.
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has been warned as to his future conduct and fined £1,000, with a further £4,000 fine suspended until the end of the season, after he admitted a charge of improper conduct to the Football Association.
The incident related to his behaviour towards referee Kevin Friend during Pompey’s Barclays Premier League match against Sunderland on Feb 9.
Grant stormed on to the Fratton Park pitch and confronted Friend at the end of the first half of the match. He was dismissed and watched the second half from the directors’ box.