European Super League talks held – report
Officials from Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool met with American billionaire Stephen Ross in London on Tuesday to discuss forming a European Super League, according to a report in The Sun.
The newspaper claims that United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano and Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre all attended the meeting held at the Dorchester Hotel.
In 2013, Ross, the owner of American football franchise Miami Dolphins, organised the International Champions Cup, the preseason tournament which has seen major clubs play in the U.S., China and Australia.
Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City chiefs in talks to LEAVE Champions League https://t.co/tIJYFcbncU pic.twitter.com/9CE2A09R9z
– Sun Sport (@SunSport) March 2, 2016
A European Super League could be formed to ensure big-name clubs avoid the risk of failing to qualify for Europe’s current biggest cup competition, the Champions League.
The Champions League offers significant revenue for teams competing in the competition, with clubs receiving ¬15 million ($16.29m) for reaching the group stage and then further financial incentives should they progress.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said in 2009 that he believes a European Super League could become a reality within the next 10 years.
In January, Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert welcomed talks about the possibility of refreshing the Champions League, saying a European Super League could benefit German clubs, while Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is not ruling out the idea.
British newspapers the Daily Mirror and the Daily Telegraph have picked up on The Sun’s report, with The Times acknowledging the European Super Leauge “could even threaten the clubs’ participation” in the Premier League.
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