Despite identical investors, UEFA will allow Manchester City and FC Girona to compete in the Champions League in 2024/25 – as well as Manchester United and OGC Nice in the Europa League
For the first time, there could be a “City Football Group” derby in the Champions League next season. The Abu Dhabi-financed holding company is not only the owner of English champions Manchester City, but also a shareholder in Spanish first division club FC Girona, which has qualified for the top flight for the first time.
However, although UEFA generally prohibits two clubs controlled by the same owner from competing together, it gave the clubs the green light on Friday – as well as Manchester United and OGC Nice, who are allowed to compete in the Europa League even though the chemical group Ineos holds shares in both.
Because both the City Football Group and Ineos had “made significant changes”, the competent adjudicatory chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had accepted the admission of the quartet, UEFA announced. “The clubs were able to prove that they comply with the ‘multi-club ownership’ rules with these changes. “
The reasoning is as follows: “No person is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, and no person has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition. “
Until September 2025, clubs are not allowed to transfer players between themselves
To this end, the investors would have transferred their shares in FC Girona and OGC Nice to independent trustees – as part of a blind trust structure under the supervision of the UEFA Financial Control Body. “The shares of FC Girona and OGC Nice will only be transferred back to their respective investors on July 1, 2025.”
This ensures, among other things, that the investors are no longer represented on the board and no longer have the opportunity to influence sport-related decisions, explains UEFA. The clubs have also undertaken not to transfer any players between themselves between July 2024 and September 2025, “either permanently or on loan, either directly or indirectly”. The only exceptions are any transfer agreements that were concluded before the proceedings were opened.
