Danish side FC Copenhagen Dir Anders Horsholt "has revealed discussions have been held" over a potential European league involving teams from Scotland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Sweden, according to the London GUARDIAN. In February, reports in Scotland suggested that Scottish Premiership side Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell was in favor of establishing the league as it feared "being frozen out" of plans to reorganize the Champions League. Now, Horsholt, whose side faces Leicester City in the Champions League next week, "has admitted talks are ongoing." In an interview with Danish newspaper BT, he said, "Yes it’s true. If we do not act now, we will see the biggest clubs grow larger and stronger while it will be increasingly difficult for clubs like us" (GUARDIAN, 10/13). ESPN.com reported BT claimed that Copenhagen "had held several meetings with clubs that have a large profile within their home nations" but cannot compete with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus and the top Premier League sides. UEFA has "already approved changes to the Champions League that will give Europe's top four leagues four guaranteed places in the group stage" from '18-19, which has attracted criticism. Horsholt: "We fully understand why the big clubs act the way they do, but it also means we have to look at the market that creates and seek alliances with the clubs in other countries who are in the same situation" (ESPN.com, 10/13).
TOP SCOTLAND TEAMS TO LEAVE?: In Glasgow, Paul Black reported Horsholt insisted the Atlantic League will "see the likes of Celtic and Rangers quit" the Scottish Professional Football League for this new venture. It is "not yet clear if other Scottish clubs such as Aberdeen and Hearts are involved," although Danish sources believe there will be 12 to 16 teams in a league drawn from six countries. With Europe's biggest clubs "looking to squeeze out the smaller nations and the current Champions League deal set to expire" in '21, Horsholt insists the clubs in countries that are "classed as only medium-sized in European scale have to seek an alternative" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 10/13).
