The bosses of English football's biggest clubs reportedly held a secret meeting to discuss a European super league
English football's five biggest clubs held a secret meeting in a top London hotel about creating a new European Super League, The Sun reports.
On Tuesday the paper published images showing senior executives of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool at the Dorchester Hotel in central London.
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre, Ferran Soriano from Manchester City, and Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis were all photographed outside the five-star hotel.
If such an agreement was to go ahead it would be hugely damaging to the Champions League, Europe's premier club competition. As well as elite English teams, other continental giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Juventus would all be likely to join if the super league was created.
In November 2013 BT agreed a three-year deal for broadcast rights of the Champions League for £897 million ($1.2 billion) in the UK so any breakaway from the tournament would likely be very damaging to the corporation.
While competing in the Champions League is hugely profitable to the top clubs, participation is dependent on finishing in a certain position in their domestic leagues, meaning that a poor season can see teams miss out.
As the unexpected success of Leicester City and Tottenham in the Premier League this season has shown, England's top clubs face an increasingly difficult job finishing high enough to secure entry to the lucrative Champions League. Winning the tournament can be worth as much as €54 million (£42 million, $58 million) in prize money, with additional income from television and sponsorship deals.
By moving to a European super league it would guarantee clubs access to vast sums without participation being linked to domestic results.
The Sun claims Ross is aiming to "have an agreement to launch the league shortly." The 75-year-old has helped to organise the International Champions Cup, a pre-season tournament involving many of the world's top clubs in the US, China, and Australia.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have yet to comment on the report.