UEFA said today they will award a 3-0 win to Turkey should an England player rebellion prevent Saturday's Euro 2004 decider in Istanbul taking place.
The English FA remain hopeful that the match will go ahead as planned but they remain locked in talks with players who continue to vent their anger over Rio Ferdinand's omission from the squad.
Reports indicate that the players have told the FA they are not prepared to play unless Ferdinand is reinstated.
The Manchester United defender was not selected for the squad yesterday as a repercussion for failing to attend a drugs test.
UEFA would not comment on the controversy but their regulations stipulate that unless a side is prevented from taking part in a match due to events such as a natural disaster or major travel problems then they forfeit the game.
It is understood that if the Ferdinand dispute does prevent the match going ahead then UEFA will have no option but to award a win to Turkey, who would then qualify automatically for the finals in Portugal next summer.
England would then go into a two-legged play-off which they would need to win to secure a place in the finals.