The Premier League’s so-called "big five" clubs have admitted meeting to debate changes to the Champions League, "amid febrile discussion across Europe about the future of the competition and proposals that could include guaranteed entry for the biggest teams," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN.
While denying reports a breakaway European Super League or replacement for the Champions League was discussed, sources at Chelsea, ManU, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal "admitted debating the format."
The admission "is another indicator of the wide-ranging changes being discussed at all levels of the game in Europe as clubs jockey for position before an agreement on the format for the next three-year TV contract cycle from 2018 and maximise revenues." One idea favored by some European clubs "would lead to a two-tier system that would guarantee entry to some of the biggest names in football, while still allowing others to qualify." But despite ManU and Liverpool having missed out in recent years, and Chelsea looking set to do so this season, they insist that "they recognise the race for the Champions League is intrinsic to the Premier League’s appeal." After being photographed leaving a London hotel summit called by representatives of American billionaire and NFL Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, who developed the pre-season Int'l Champions Cup, they "were forced to deny plans for a breakaway" (GUARDIAN, 3/2).
BREAKAWAY SPECULATION: In London, Bryans & Van Wijk wrote photographs of club officials leaving a meeting at the Dorchester Hotel together "prompted speculation that another attempt could be made to form a continental league competition." But an Arsenal spokesperson, while confirming a meeting took place, said, "We are strongly opposed to any breakaway. Not Arsenal, nor any clubs at the meeting, are seeking changes to the Premier League and European landscape and no conversations surrounding displacing the Premier League or starting a European Super League took place" (INDEPENDENT, 3/2).
INVITATION ONLY: The London DAILY MIRROR reported ManU Exec Vice-Chair Ed Woodward, Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre, Chelsea Chair Bruce Buck, Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis and Man City CEO Ferran Soriano "were pictured leaving the Dorchester Hotel." An "invitation-only continental super league -- also featuring the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Olympiacos -- would all but spell the end of the UEFA Champions League, and hugely damage the Premier League." Chelsea and ManU "also denied interest in leaving the Premier League." It "would not just be a hammer blow to the Premier League but also to UEFA," which already finds itself "at loggerheads with the European Club Association" (DAILY MIRROR, 3/2). In London, Martyn Ziegler wrote Ross himself "was not at the meeting at a London hotel which involved senior figures." The talks were wide-ranging but there were "no specific proposals for a breakaway." ManU insiders said that the club "would be opposed to any major change to the current footballing landscape."
Relevent Sports "may be eyeing an involvement in staging Champions League games" in the U.S. and Far East following the success it has had with putting on summer tournaments involving the top European clubs (LONDON TIMES, 3/2).
TOUR TALK: BLOOMBERG's Tariq Panja reported as well as discussions about changes to the current format of the Champions League -- a 32-team event -- officials "talked about tours outside of the league schedule." Relevant’s Int'l Champions Cup "has grown to become the largest tune-up event for European teams, with games played at packed stadiums across the U.S." The ECA, a group representing more than 200 teams, said that "talks about future competitions remain ongoing, though denied there were firm proposals." A spokesperson for the group said, "There’s a lot of discussion around the future of European competitions at the moment, as always ahead of a new competition cycle. Discussions are taking place at different levels, but, for the moment, nothing concrete was brought up at ECA" (BLOOMBERG, 3/2).
OUTSIDE INTEREST: In London, Gill, Gaughan & Jones wrote sources close to the talks said that any proposals for change to the current European format "are not being pushed by English clubs but are coming from those abroad." Clubs on the continent, particularly in Spain and Italy, "want to ramp up European competition and are keen to make more revenue" following the Premier League's new £5B ($7B) TV deal. One Champions League club chairman said, "There is interest from independent private funders in a European Super League that would see games played at the weekends. Games played in midweek, as they are in the Champions League, offer less value. So the games would be at the weekend. But it's very unlikely the clubs will break away from a competition as lucrative as the English Premier League" (DAILY MAIL, 3/2).
READY TO FIGHT: Also in London, Rumsby & Wallace wrote UEFA "is ready to fight any attempt by England’s biggest clubs to start a European Super League or radically revamp the Champions League." UEFA responded to the news "by declaring the format of its club competitions was under constant review." But it is understood that while it is prepared to consider changes to them ahead of the sale of their TV rights for the '18-21 seasons later this year, "it will resist the creation of a Super League or any moves to hand certain clubs automatic Champions League places each season" (TELEGRAPH, 3/2). In Glasgow, Keith Jackson wrote Scottish Professional Football League CEO Neil Doncaster "will fly to Geneva next week to take part in a crisis summit in the hope of saving Scotland’s pathway into the Champions League." Doncaster’s dash across the continent "comes after Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell issued a private warning to Scotland’s top flight over the potentially grave consequences of a lock out from the most lucrative club competition in Europe."
Lawwell "was leading the fight against a proposed breakaway cartel by the big five -- Germany, Spain, France, Italy and England -- which could see the Champions League become a closed shop, open only to the richest clubs on an invitation only basis." Doncaster "will be dispatched to Geneva next Friday hoping to help build a pact against the proposals, with the backing of all 12 Scotland’s leading clubs."
A source said, "There’s a feeling that Scotland hasn’t woken up. Doncaster made it clear that this trip could have a huge significance for Scottish football" (DAILY RECORD, 3/2).
