Report: Premier League wants answer
Clubs asked to confirm lack of interest in Super League
Posted: Wednesday July 29, 1998 03:40 PM
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Manchester United is one of three clubs that faces a court injunction if it refuses to decide whether to join the Super League Shaun Botterill/Allsport |
LONDON (AP) -- The English Premier League has reportedly given
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool a deadline to confirm in
writing that they are not interested in joining a European Super
League. Otherwise, they could face legal action.
The move comes amid speculation in Germany, Italy and England
that Europe's top clubs, targeted by major marketing companies,
have met privately to discuss forming a league in the year 2000 and
breaking away from UEFA's Champions Cup competition.
The tabloid Sun reported that the Premier League has requested
all three clubs, who have previously denied any involvement in any
potential breakaway, to make their intentions clear in writing by 5
p.m. Wednesday (1600 GMT). A court injunction could follow if they
refuse to agree.
According to reports, if any English club joined a Super League,
they would be breaking the rules of the domestic soccer
association. The rules prohibit clubs from playing in any
professional competitions not recognized by their domestic League
and Football Association.
A Premier League spokesman declined to say whether it had issued
the ultimatum but admitted it wanted the clubs to say No to the
concept of a Super League.
"Our clubs have read a lot about a Super League, much of which
is speculation," said the spokesman, who declined to be
identified.
"While we believe that the present structure is working well,
it is only sensible that we, as other leagues and UEFA are doing,
clarify what -- if any -- proposals exist concerning a Super
League."
UEFA, soccer's governing body in Europe, has asked member
associations to contact its leading clubs to find out if a rival
Super League is being proposed.
Speculation has been around for more than a decade that the top
teams would get together in their own league and UEFA has taken
steps to strengthen its own competitions to keep them more
attractive to the big clubs.
It created a league system within the champions Cup so that the
leading eight clubs go automatically into the last 24 and play in
groups before reverting to the knockout formula from the
quarterfinal onwards.
It has even changed the group format from six groups of four to
four groups of six next season so that the clubs will gain higher
revenue from more games.
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