The ambition of City Football Group (CFG), the parent company that owns Manchester City, extends far beyond managing just one team. In 2013, CFG conceived a global multi-club project, which has since expanded to include 12 different clubs across men’s, women’s, and youth football in 12 countries on every continent except Africa.
This ambitious expansion aims to foster a wide-reaching influence in the football world, encompassing teams such as New York City FC, Melbourne City, and Mumbai City FC.
From a regulatory standpoint, being part of such a vast network doesn’t pose a problem concerning UEFA rules for most of CFG’s teams.
However, UEFA’s regulations, specifically Article 5 of the Champions League guidelines, present challenges. These rules prevent any club participating in UEFA competitions from holding securities or shares in, managing, or influencing the performance of any other club in the same competitions. This is to maintain fairness and avoid conflicts of interest if such clubs were to face each other in European tournaments.
Most of CFG’s European clubs, like Palermo, Troyes, and Lommel, which play in their respective second tiers, don’t face immediate issues under these rules. However, the situation is different for Girona FC in Spain.
Girona, which CFG partially owns with a 47% stake acquired in 2017, is currently experiencing an exceptional season in La Liga.
Having recently achieved promotion back to the top tier in 2022, Girona is now leading La Liga, even ahead of giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their performance raises the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
The remarkable success of Girona poses a potential conflict with UEFA’s regulations due to the common ownership with Manchester City. If both clubs were to qualify for the Champions League, UEFA rules would give priority to the club finishing higher in their respective domestic league.
Although Manchester City has been dominant in the Premier League, their recent struggles mean there’s no certainty they would finish ahead of Girona, especially if Girona’s impressive form continues.
CFG’s expansion strategy and Girona’s unexpected rise create a potential regulatory conflict that UEFA must address. The governing body faces the challenge of balancing the principles of fair competition with the realities of modern football’s multi-club ownership models.
The rise in such ownership structures means UEFA must evolve its regulations to prevent clubs from being unfairly barred from European competitions.
This issue is not unique to CFG. Manchester United, for example, could face similar challenges with their potential part-ownership by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, which already owns OGC Nice.
Reports suggest that INEOS has been in contact with UEFA and received assurances that no major issues would arise, highlighting UEFA’s awareness and the necessity for adaptable regulations.
The increasing prevalence of multi-club ownership necessitates that UEFA reassesses and potentially revises its rules. Without such changes, the football community might see more instances where clubs with common ownership face barriers to European competition, despite operating independently.
Girona’s success story illustrates both the potential and the pitfalls of CFG’s multi-club ownership model. As the team enjoys its best-ever season, CFG’s global strategy is put to the test, pushing UEFA to find solutions that uphold the integrity of competitions while accommodating the evolving landscape of football ownership.
The next steps UEFA takes in addressing these issues will be crucial in shaping the future of club football in Europe and ensuring that success on the pitch is rewarded fairly, regardless of ownership complexities.
