Manchester City, owned by City Football Group, could stop sister club Girona from the Spanish LaLiga from getting UEFA Champions League clearance.
They could also be prevented from playing in Europe’s premier competition. This is because UEFA does not allow two clubs owned by the same persons or groups to participate in its competitions.
Man City’s case, however, has a clear solution. City Football Group have been reported to be planning to sell a part of their ownership stake in Girona to make them minor shareholders, as the Catalan club is a more recent acquisition than City.
This will allow both clubs to compete in Europe while allowing CFG to hold a stake in the blossoming Girona.
Now, UEFA has turned their attention to the other Manchester-based club who are in the same boat.
Manchester United won the FA Cup against their neighbours to seal qualification to the UEFA Europa League. Their owners, INEOS Group, also own OGC Nice, one of the French Ligue 1 sides that will be participating in the Europa League.
The Red Devils are in the same boat now as their neighbours, who could possibly lose some of their Saudi funding despite the news of their owners trying to find a buyer for some of their stake in Girona.
INEOS only recently acquired United and have had Nice for longer. It remains to be seen which of the two clubs will be sacrificed for the other for the sake of Europa League participation.
INEOS United’s ownership cost more to acquire at £1 billion with a further injection of almost £250 million, but they only own 27 percent of the club. Meanwhile, they own the majority of Nice, which is where the problem lies.
In light of this conundrum, the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led group have issued a statement which reads: “We are aware of the position of the two clubs and we are in direct dialogue with UEFA. We are convinced that we have a solution for next season in Europe.”
United have started making changes based on INEOS’ whims as well, which makes things a little difficult for both clubs. If they choose to back out of United – a highly unlikely choice – it will mean that the Red Devils will have to start again in their restructuring under new ownership with only three months to the start of a new Premier League season.
If INEOS is unable to find a solution for Nice and United, Article 5.04 of the UEFA regulations has a solution for them.
The regulations state that a club that is replaced in one competition ‘may still be admitted to another UEFA club competition (i.e. in descending order: UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League) to which the relevant national association has access’.
