Celtic and Rangers could finally quit Scottish football as Copenhagen chief reveals Atlantic League is ON
11:04, 13 OCT 2016
UPDATED 11:19, 13 OCT 2016
BY PAUL BLACK
DANE Anders Hørsholt reveals talks are on-going in the face of Champions League fears.
THE Atlantic League is seemingly marching towards inevitability – with a key figure confirming talks have taken place in the face of Champions League fears.
FC Copenhagen director Anders Hørsholt revealed discussions have been on-going to set up a European league involving teams from Scotland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Sweden.
Clubs have acted over concerns of being frozen out of the Champions League by a Continental cartel.
Record Sport in February exclusively revealed Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell had reached out to Ajax among other outfits in an attempt to fight the proposals of Europe’s elite clubs, who are attempting to drive through an invitation-only version of the competition.
FC Copenhagen director Anders Hørsholt
Hørsholt insisted the Atlantic League will see the likes of Celtic and Rangers quit theSPFL for this new venture. It’s not yet clear if other Scottish clubs such as Aberdeen and Hearts are involved, although Danish sources believe there will be 12 to 16 teams in a league drawn from six countries.
In an interview with Danish newspaper BT, Hørsholt said: "Yes it's true. If we do not act now, we will see the biggest clubs grow larger and stronger while it will be increasingly difficult for clubs like us.
"We must therefore look at which alternative international opportunities for FC Copenhagen in the future.
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"Here it is still too early to talk about specific models, but the discussion of leagues across European borders is a theme that we look at and actively participates in."
With Europe's biggest clubs looking to squeeze out the smaller nations and the current Champions League deal set to expire in 2021, Hørsholt insists the clubs in countries that are classed as only medium-sized in European scale have to seek an alternative.
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He said: "We understand that the biggest clubs act as they do.
"But it also means that we must look at the market, it leaves and seek alliances with teams from other countries in the same situation.
"This is not a situation that we have created, but we have to deal with it, because we can not live with the alternative accounting. We must continue to develop as a club and be attractive to sponsors, the most skilled players and staff. Therefore, it is essential that we are at the European level."
Hørsholt also insisted the only way a new European league can work is if member clubs leave their domestic set-ups.
He added: "FC Copenhagen and other European clubs that will be part of a new European league will step out of their domestic leagues. It is still well in the future, but it may well be the result."
Talk of an Atlantic-style league including Celtic and Rangers and clubs from Scandinavia, Belgium and the Netherlands have been doing the rounds since 1999, when PSV's sporting director Frank Arnesen first mentioned it.
Earlier this month SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster again voiced fears the Champions League could become a closed shop and Hørsholt believes changes are inevitable.
He said: "The latest development is a clear step away from the idea of 'The Football Family', which would otherwise have been the foundation of both UEFA, ECA (European Club Association) and entire cooperation of Football Europe.
"In short, we have no alternative. We are a club that should help ensure that Denmark has a place in international club football. We will fight for the track in the next Champions League, but we will also fight outside while a new European football map is drawn."
