On Friday, UEFA announced that Manchester City and Girona have been cleared to participate in the Champions League, while Manchester United and Nice will compete in the Europa League, following resolutions to multi-club ownership issues.
Both City and Girona are affiliated with the City Group, and Jim Ratcliffe, who owns 25% of Manchester United, also controls Nice through his company, Ineos.
UEFA confirmed the clubs’ admission into next season’s European competitions after previously investigating potential conflicts with its ownership regulations. This decision came “following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned investors in Girona FC and OGC Nice.”
“The clubs were able to demonstrate that such changes brought them into compliance with the multi-club ownership rule,” UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) stated.
UEFA emphasized that “no one 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.” They further clarified that “no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.”
To comply with UEFA rules, the City Group, which held a 47% stake in Girona, and Ineos, transferred their shares to “independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber” until July 2025.
Additionally, the clubs have committed to avoiding any new player transfers between each other, either permanently or on loan, until September 2025. They also agreed not to engage in commercial cooperation or collaboration on coaching or scouting activities.
When the stakes are returned next July, the clubs must ensure they continue to meet UEFA’s regulations.
Previously, UEFA had examined cases involving other clubs, including Toulouse and AC Milan, Aston Villa and Vitoria Guimaraes, and Brighton and Union Royale Saint-Gilloise.
