THE PREMIER LEAGUE’s so-called ‘big five’ did meet at a London hotel yesterday, but it was not to discuss the possibility of a breakaway European Super League according to reports this afternoon.
The Sun newspaper photographed Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal), Ferran Soriano (Manchester City), Ed Woodward (Manchester United) Ian Ayre (Liverpool) and Bruce Buck (Chelsea) leaving the Dorchester hotel and claimed the quintet were there consider a break away league.
While the five did meet with representatives of Stephen Ross, the billionaire owner of the Miami Dolphins, it was not, as the paper said to “cut out the risks of them missing out on Champions League millions every season if they fail to qualify.”
Instead, according to the Press Association “the talks were primarily about pre-season tournament the International Champions Cup” and not a discussion about a European Super League.
Arsenal also denied the meeting was to discuss a breakaway league.
“We are strongly opposed to any breakaway,” they said.
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.
“Discussions were primarily around the ICC and formats of European competitions that would compliment the existing Premier League.”
Premier League's big five deny claims they met to discuss European Super League
Updated at 11am
THE PREMIER LEAGUE’s so-called ‘big five’ did meet at a London hotel yesterday, but it was not to discuss the possibility of a breakaway European Super League according to reports this afternoon.
The Sun newspaper photographed Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal), Ferran Soriano (Manchester City), Ed Woodward (Manchester United) Ian Ayre (Liverpool) and Bruce Buck (Chelsea) leaving the Dorchester hotel and claimed the quintet were there consider a break away league.
While the five did meet with representatives of Stephen Ross, the billionaire owner of the Miami Dolphins, it was not, as the paper said to “cut out the risks of them missing out on Champions League millions every season if they fail to qualify.”
Instead, according to the Press Association “the talks were primarily about pre-season tournament the International Champions Cup” and not a discussion about a European Super League.
Arsenal also denied the meeting was to discuss a breakaway league.
“We are strongly opposed to any breakaway,” they said.
“Discussions were primarily around the ICC and formats of European competitions that would compliment the existing Premier League.”
Originally published at 9am.
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