Fearing that their club would be left behind in terms of financial revenue and ability to attract star players relative to those that play in the largest European national leagues, they contacted a number of other clubs, both in the Netherlands and abroad, with large fanbases, with the proposition that they secede from their existing league competitions and form an international competition with one another.

A plan was drawn up for a league featuring clubs from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Scotland, plus a contingent from Scandinavian countries.

He instead furthered his Atlantic League proposal, entering into discussions with UEFA's marketing director Lars-Christer Olsson with a project that now included the other Dutch and Scottish clubs contacted in the initial stage, plus S.L.

[5] By April 2002, Rangers and Celtic (collectively known as the Old Firm) were openly attempting to secede from the SPL and enter the English league system instead.

van Raaij and PSV approached the pair with a new Atlantic League proposal, now featuring between 18 and 20 teams and no longer including the Scandinavian countries.

[8] UEFA replied that international competitions must take place under their jurisdiction, but were not opposed to the idea, only insisting that the national associations involved be in full agreement.

[3][13] The plan was again discussed in the beginning of 2016[14] and talks have taken place throughout the year by representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway according to Anders Hørsholt, the director of F.C.

[20] The chief executive of the Norwegian Premier League, Leif Overland, said "From what I have learned, it seems JP Morgan are involved in the investment and with good financing like that, the proposal must be taken seriously.

But I think it's unlikely to be a good audience project because of the teams involved and the biggest challenge would be finding room in the football calendar.