ITALY'S top flight Serie A could breakaway from the second division Serie B and form a Super League, officials have warned.

Club chairmen from the two divisions, which make up the Italian league, have been meeting this week to see how much money Serie A should hand down to Serie B.

Serie B clubs have struggled in recent years because of falling attendances and the lack of a television deal last season.

'Behind this, there are projects grander than us like a Super League and the changing of the rules for TV,' said league president Antonio Matarrese.

England's Premier League broke away from three other divisions in the old Football League in the early 1990s and has prospered thanks to its own television deals.

Serie A has watched with envy as the Premier League has gone from strength to strength.

Years behind

'The day has arrived. The league is 20 years behind and we cannot lose any more time,' said Massimo Cellino, the president of Serie A's Cagliari.

'Serie A is separating from B.'

Serie A has offered 65 million euros ($129.4m) to Serie B for this season but the second tier is widely expected to refuse the offer at a meeting later in the week.

Some Serie A officials have suggested not paying Serie B anything.

Reuters