Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has revealed chairman Sir David Richards is "distraught" that his comments about foreign imports hurting the national team made it's way to the public area.

Scudamore was hardly protective of Richards who aired his views when speaking at the Third Dubai International Sports Conference, held in the United Arab Emirates at the end of May.

"It is appalling that we are not at Euro 2008," said Scudamore. "November 21 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.

"I would absolutely refute that the Premier League cost Steve McClaren his job.

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

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