Update: Why Ian Ayre & big club chiefs actually met in Dorchester Hotel

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The internet was awash with the story, cited here in the Daily Mail (who’ve since updated it), that representatives from the Premier League’s Big 5 met to discuss a breakaway European Super League this morning.

However, just hours after the initial story broke, a correction began to circle – which falsified the earlier claims and said that Ian Ayre,  Man. United’s Ed Woodward, Arsenal’s Ivan Gazidis, City’s Ferran Soriano and Chelsea’s Bruce Buck actually met at the Dorchester Hotel with American billionaire Stephen Ross in regards to the international Champions Cup – a pre-season tournament Liverpool are likely to participate in next summer.

They were not discussing a potential breakaway competition, much to the relief of all.

An Arsenal spokesman told Press Association Sport, cited by ITV: “We are strongly opposed to any breakaway.

“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.”

So there you have it. Nothing to worry about!

 

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