Manchester City could land themselves in a Champions League pickle if sister club Girona qualify for Europe’s top-tier club competition. The Spanish side are flying in La Liga, putting Pep Guardiola at risk of a ban from the tournament unless boardroom changes are made at both clubs.
Girona are threatening to spoil the party in Spain as they top the table, leading Real Madrid by two points and Barcelona by seven points after 16 matches. The unlikely title contenders, who are part of City Football Group (CFG), have lost just once in the league all season.
Qualification for next campaign’s Champions League is therefore within their grasp, but CFG’s multi-club ownership model could see Girona and City fall foul of UEFA regulations.
CFG and majority shareholder Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan own 47 per cent of Girona – a small enough stake to permit both sides to compete against one another, but certain ties would need to be cut.
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For example, John MacBeath and Simon Cliff are currently on the boards of City and Girona. Both men may be required to relinquish one of their positions, or risk the Sky Blues being barred from playing in next season’s Champions League.
UEFA rules stipulate that, if both sides qualify, access to the competition will go to the team which finishes higher in their respective league. Girona are currently top of La Liga, with City fourth in the Premier League.
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Manchester United will face a similar problem once Sir Jim Ratcliffe completes his 25-per-cent buy-in at Old Trafford. The petrochemicals magnate’s company, INEOS, already owns a controlling stake in OGC Nice, who currently occupy a Champions League qualifying spot in Ligue 1.
Even if City and United take the necessary measures to stay on the right side of UEFA rules, thus allowing them to compete in the Champions League, the European governing body could still restrict transfers between the Manchester duo and their related sides while the competition runs its course.
United are at risk of a premature Champions League exit this season. They host Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, with Erik ten Hag’s side in need of a win, as well as a draw between Galatasaray and Copenhagen, to advance.
City, meanwhile, are already through after winning all five group games so far. Guardiola’s side travel to Serbia on Wednesday for a game against Red Star Belgrade.
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