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6 months ago
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It does really feel that these days the strict rules in football are only there for the have nots, whilst those with power and influence, such as Manchester City and others, can have the rules ‘stretched’ to allow them to carry on regardless.
As you may well know, the ‘City Football Group’ have stakes in 13 different clubs in various countries around the world.
Quite why this is allowed at all is a mystery to me.
How in any way can this be good for football overall? What if we ended up with a small number of people / groups having stakes in most of the major clubs?
Anyway, the City Football Group have ran into a problem.
UEFA rules prevent two teams from the same owners participating in the same competition.
Manchester City and Girona have both qualified for the Champions League next season. So surely then only one of the two can compete in it? Wrong!
UEFA saying that so long as the City Football Group reduce their stake in Girona to 30%, selling off any shareholding over the 30% to an ‘independent third party’, both Manchester City and Girona can play in the Champions League next season.
This is a total joke, the 13 clubs within the City Football Group move numerous players around internally, giving their other ‘family’ clubs a distinct advantage over other clubs, so why then allow this further step to happen, bending the rules so that both Girona and Manchester City can still play in the Champions League?
At the very least, rules should be in place that once a season kicks off, then all clubs are bound by rules that not more than one under that same ownership can qualify that season for the same European competition. Rather than being allowed to just move part of your shareholding on at the end of the season to bend the rules. Plus, who would be at all surprised if this shareholding that has been reduced, then suddenly goes back to the original level, once that European competing season is over?
Talksport report – 16 May 2024:
‘Girona have been one of the stories of the season, having battled for the title until a slip in results saw them fall below Real Madrid and Barcelona, but their success has caused a few headaches for their owners – the City Football Group.
City Football Group are, of course, the owners of Man City and UEFA rules prevent two teams from the same owners participating in the same competition.
The Abu Dhabi-based operation have stakes in 13 clubs, and that includes 47 per cent of Girona. Pep Guardiola’s brother, Pere, also owns a stake in the club.
City Football Group have been offered divestment options to enable both teams to compete in the Champions League next season.
Failing to comply could mean that one of the teams, most likely Girona, be relegated to the Europa League.
The problem could be solved by City Football Group selling a stake to an independent third party to reduce their overall ownership to 30 per cent.
The UEFA rules are in place to guard against collusion in the game.
It is believed they have until June 3 to submit a proposal.
UEFA is believed to have scrutinised the City Football Group links with Girona over their transfer business this season.
The criteria covers clubs under the same ownership who have ‘transferred, permanently or temporarily, three or more players with the other club, directly or indirectly via related parties, during the season’.
Girona have three players from City Football Group clubs this season, including star man Savio – who is on loan from Troyes.’
This isn’t a new thing either with Premier League clubs, only last summer we saw exactly the same situation with media darlings Brighton…
The Argus report – 7 July 2024:
‘UEFA have dismissed any concerns about Albion and Union St Gilloise both competing in the Europa League.
Europe’s governing body confirmed the clubs do not breach any rules on multi-club ownership.
Albion chairman Tony Bloom has reduced his ownership share in USG to a minority stake after Albion qualified for Europe.
The Belgian club reported they have made “certain changes” to their ownership structure.’
Well that’s alright then…
There have been numerous transfer dealings between Brighton and Union St Gilloise in recent years, mainly players going out on loan from the Premier League to the Belgian club.
Again I ask the question, exactly how does it benefit football overall, especially fans, when the same people can own stakes in so many different clubs?

 
