Senior officials from Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea held secret talks yesterday about the formation of a European super league, it was claimed last night.
The Sun said that the five executives held a meeting at the Dorchester Hotel in London with Stephen Ross, the American billionaire who is the owner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team. The report, which was accompanied by pictures of the officials apparently outside the hotel, alleged that the clubs are exploring the possibility of a European league of which they would be permanent members, thereby removing any risk of failing to qualify as has happened in this season’s Champions League.
The Sun’s report claimed that the formation of the league, which would be backed by Ross, could even threaten the clubs’ participation in the Barclays Premier League. The executives did not respond when contacted for comment by The Times last night.
Meanwhile, Uefa was accused last night of paying lip service to supporters after announcing that 44 per cent of tickets for the Champions League final in Milan on May 28 will not go to fans, with many facing the prospect of buying category one tickets at £343 each.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) was consulted before the arrangements for the final at the San Siro were announced yesterday, but it was disappointed by the allocations — with 25,500 tickets for sponsors, corporate guests, media and guests — and the prices.
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Each of the finalists have been allocated 20,000 tickets while a further 6,000 went on sale yesterday . Of that 46,000, 30 per cent are in the most expensive category, which cost £304 last year, and 26 per cent are in category two, which has risen from £218 to £249. Category three (33 per cent of supporters’ seats) and category four tickets (11 per cent) have remained unchanged at £125 and £55 respectively.