A number of countries are holding “active discussions” with Uefa about joining forces and launching cross-border leagues, according to the highest ranking official in European football’s governing body.
Theodore Theodoridis, Uefa’s interim general secretary, acknowledged yesterday that the possibility – which could, in theory, open the door for the English and Scottish leagues to merge, giving Rangers and Celtic the chance to compete south of the border - was being explored. Both the Netherlands and Belgium – who previously ran an experimental joint league for their women’s competitions last year – and Sweden, Norway and Denmark are said to be considering it.
Uefa has previously been opposed to the idea but is increasingly conscious, according to Theodoridis, of the need to “protect the competitive balance”