Owners of Manchester City and Girona in Abu Dhabi offered solutions to comply with UEFA’s Champions League entry regulations

UEFA Offers Divestment Options to Abu Dhabi Investors in Manchester City and Girona

In a bid to ensure compliance with integrity rules for teams that share owners, UEFA has offered divestment options to the Abu Dhabi investors in Manchester City and Girona. This move comes as both clubs gear up to compete in the Champions League next season.

Girona, which has secured a top-four finish in Spain’s La Liga, has seen a remarkable rise, with key players influenced by Manchester City’s involvement, including Brazilian star Sávio. The club, also partially owned by the brother of Man City manager Pep Guardiola, is set to make its debut in the prestigious European competition.

However, the close ties between the two clubs have raised concerns about collusion in games, prompting UEFA to intervene. Failure to comply with UEFA’s rules by June 3 could result in one of the teams, likely Girona, being demoted to the Europa League.

According to a UEFA document, City Football Group (CFG) has two options to address the issue: selling shares to reduce ownership stakes below 30% or transferring all shares in one club to a blind trust overseen by a UEFA-appointed panel.

The multi-club ownership issue has been a point of contention for UEFA and CFG since Girona’s impressive start to the season. The clubs’ transfer dealings and shared ownership have come under scrutiny, with UEFA emphasizing the need to uphold fair competition.

As the deadline approaches, both Manchester City and Girona must navigate the divestment options to ensure their participation in the Champions League. The outcome of this situation will not only impact the clubs but also shed light on the complexities of multi-club ownership in modern football.