A report in The Times said clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester United were being targeted to be part of a 24-team tournament every two years in Qatar and neighbouring countries.

It said elite clubs would be offered €200 million per two-year cycle, dwarfing the financial rewards provided for winning Europe's elite club competition.

But the report is similar to a hoax French article published on Les Cahiers du Football on Sunday, with several of the same details.

In a statement on Wednesday, the QFA said: "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."

The Times have since defended the story and deny Les Cahiers du Football was the source of their report.