Will Girona not be able to play in the 2024/25 Champions League because of Manchester City?

On December 21, the Madrid Region Twitter public published a shocking (as it initially seemed) post.

“According to UEFA rules Girona will not be able to play in the Champions League next seasonEven if the club qualifies there because it belongs to the same group Manchester City.

Girona can play in another UEFA tournament, but not in the same tournament.”

Girona and Manchester City represent a football consortium called City Football Group.

In 1998 UEFA introduced the following rule:

“No person may be involved simultaneously, directly or indirectly and in any capacity, in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.”

In the comments below the Madrid Region post, subscribers were quick to note that RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig are playing in the current Champions League season.

In the 2017/18 season, these clubs were simultaneously admitted to the Champions League. Then, UEFA defended its decision as follows:

“Following a comprehensive review, in addition to the many significant structural and administrative changes made by clubs (institutional, financial, personal, sponsorship and other matters), the IFC (Club Financial Control Authority) has determined that a legal or individual decision will no longer be a determining factor in the participation of more than one club in European competitions.” “It has an impact.”

In the 2023/24 season, UEFA allowed several more clubs belonging to the same consortium to participate in a tournament:

• Milan and Toulouse

The chairman of RedBird Capital has resigned as director of Toulouse.

• Aston Villa and Vitoria Guimaraes

Owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris owned 100% of Villans’ shares; They owned 46% of the Portuguese club’s rights before the start of the Champions League and later reduced Vitoria’s share to 29%, thus leaving both clubs. allowed.

• Brighton and Union Saint Gilloise

The owner is Tony Bloom, who reduced his stake in the Belgian club to 25% before the start of the season.

All 6 clubs must comply with the following rules:

• players cannot be transferred to each other, either as a full transfer or on loan, until September 2024;
• you may not collaborate in any way or enter into any technical or commercial agreements;
• Public scouting or player databases cannot be used.

City Football Group fully owns Manchester City, but they only own 47% of Girona’s rights. Maybe we will have to reduce the share in the next campaign…