European Super League discussed in secret meeting between Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City chiefs
A cabal of executives from the five biggest Premier League clubs have convened in London to discuss breaking away from the Champions League, according to reports.
Representatives from Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were photographed by The Sun at the Dorchester Hotel in London, where they are believed to have talked about forming a new European Super League with American billionaire Stephen Ross.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, Manchester City chief Ferran Soriano, Liverpool chief Ian Ayre and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck were all present at the gathering.
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Ross owns NFL franchise the Miami Dolphins and set up the International Champions Cup, the pre-season competitions contested by top European clubs and held around the world.
Discussions of a European Super League, which would eliminate the risk of missing out on Champions League revenue currently facing United, Liverpool and Chelsea, follows proposals put forward at a recent European Club Association (ECA) meeting to grant the biggest teams a "wildcard" entry into Uefa's elite competition every season.
Similar proposals to break-up the existing structure of European football have been put forward by former PSV Eindhoven chief Peter Fossen who wants to create a new "Atlantic League" formed of the biggest teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Scotland and Scandinavia.