Qatar deny new tournament for top clubs

Qatar's football authorities have issued a denial that the country is to organise a new tournament for the world's leading clubs.

A report on Wednesday said that a tournament for 24 clubs named the 'Dream Football League' and backed by the Qatari royal family would be established from 2015.

A statement from the Qatar Football Association said however: "With regard to the story published in today's edition of The Times newspaper concerning a 'Dream Football League,' the Qatar Football Association and other Qatari football entities can categorically confirm that we have no involvement in any such initiative and has heard nothing to suggest such a concept is genuine."

FIFA and UEFA would have to sanction any such competition, and the governing bodies plus sources at the European Clubs' Association said they had not heard of the plan.

UEFA said in a statement: "UEFA is not aware of any such alleged plans. We therefore have no comments to make."