Relevent Sports is owned by American billionaire Stephen Ross, who also owns National Football League franchise Miami Dolphins.
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Television companies across Europe spend big money for the rights to broadcast matches in the continent’s premier club competition.
“They have the full right to be where they are now”, said the Dutchman.
There have also been reports this week of a breakaway European Super League being discussed amongst leading clubs.
While Theodoridis has faith that UEFA will not be deserted, he is keen to continue discussions with all clubs to ensure their needs are satisfied. At least a change in format.
Van Gaal said: “Everybody knows when you follow my career that I am against the Super League and something like that”.
“When they came up with the Champions League, the idea wasn’t to have PSV (Eindhoven) and Ghent playing in the knockout stage”, he said.
Even though Chelsea’s only real chance of returning to the Champions League next season is winning it this May, manager Guus Hiddink reckons giving automatic entry would destroy the very essence of sport.
Stillitano claims that teams like Manchester United should qualify for the tournament, because the helped the tournament grow in it’s early years.
While it is unlikely that the rules will be changed and the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea who do not look like they will qualify for the competition will be included in favor of Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur, the debate and discussion of this topic is unlikely to cease without any friction.
Spurs meanwhile are involved in the Europa League, while Arsenal are still in the Champions League and the FA Cup, and Manchester City are in the Champions League.
Charlie Stillitano, one of the men behind the International Champions Cup, says there is a valid argument for richer clubs to be guaranteed a place in the Champions League.
The ICC is a friendly pre-season tournament played in the United States, China and Australia between local and top European clubs and organized by Relevent. Putting aside the short-sided (and self-serving) idea that the perspective and interest of the American soccer fan is the only one that matters, the notion that Manchester United created soccer is absurd.
“What would Manchester United argue: did we create soccer or did Leicester create?” he spoke to U.S. radio station, SiriusXM.
Talking about what he called the “money pot created by soccer”, he asked: “Who has more of an integral role, Manchester United or Leicester?”
But Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is NOT a fan……
Stillitano revealed he met with Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward this week.
Leicester, known as the Foxes, were founded in 1884 and elected to the Football league in 1894.
United are level on points with Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League as they chase a third successive league win at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
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But Stillitano, chairman of Relevant Sports, has confirmed that, alongside ICC talks, a discussion was also had over a “restructuring of the Champions League” that would guarantee the participation of the biggest and most popular clubs in the world, even at the expense of the likes of high-flying Leicester.
