As hard as it may seem to believe, Manchester City may not feature in any UEFA competition in the 2024/2025 club football season for a reason that is not FFP related.
According to UEFA laws, Manchester City might not feature in any UEFA competition after the 2023/2024 club football season for a reason that is not financially related. The English side might forgo their position in all UEFA competitions based on the current run of form of another club owned by their owners.
It is no secret that Manchester City owners run a multi-club system, but the current success of a club also owned by them in the Spanish La Liga might deter the Cityzens from featuring in any UEFA competition. With Girona currently in the form of their history, the Spanish club which is also owned by City owners might qualify for UEFA competitions next season as they currently hold the number one position on the La Liga table.
UEFA laws indicate that two clubs with the same owners can not feature in any UEFA competition together and this is where the problem lies for both sides.
The law states:
• No club, either directly or indirectly, holds or deals in securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;
• No club is a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;
• No one has any power whatsoever or is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and
• No one has control or decisive influence over more than one club in a UEFA club competition.
How can Man City and Girona play in any UEFA Competition together?
In July 2023, UEFA confirmed that 6 clubs of which 2 each had the same owners have been allowed into UEFA competitions after full compliance with their laws. These clubs were:
- - Aston Villa FC (ENG) and Vitória Sport Clube (POR) SAME OWNERS
- - Brighton & Hove Albion FC (ENG) and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) SAME OWNERS
- - AC Milan (ITA) and Toulouse FC (FRA) SAME OWNERS
The reason for allowing these clubs that had the same owners was as a result of the fact that they met the requirement of the league which was the implementation of several changes as well as the role of their investors.
These were as follows:
• significant reduction of the investors’ shareholding in one of the clubs, or transfer of the effective control and decision making of one of the clubs to an independent party;
• significant restrictions in the ability to provide financing to more than one club;
• no representation on the board of directors and no capacity to directly appoint new directors on the board of more than one club;
• no ability to participate in the general assembly or ability to participate in key decisions such as the approval of the budgets of more than one club; and
• no ability to exercise control over more than one club at the level of the board of directors or their general assemblies through veto rights or contractual arrangements entered into with other shareholders.
Manchester City and Girona can both feature in UEFA competitions if these changes are also made to their system at the club.
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