The City Football Group (CFG), which owns Manchester City, has ambitious plans beyond managing a single team.
Since 2013, CFG has developed a global multi-club network, now encompassing 12 clubs across men’s, women’s, and youth football in 12 countries worldwide, excluding Africa.
This expansion aims to establish a broad influence in the football world, including teams like New York City FC, Melbourne City, and Mumbai City FC.
Most CFG clubs face no regulatory issues with UEFA, except for Article 5 of the Champions League guidelines.
This rule prevents clubs participating in UEFA competitions from having financial or management ties with other clubs in the same competitions to avoid conflicts of interest.
CFG’s European clubs, such as Palermo, Troyes, and Lommel, which are in second-tier leagues, generally don’t face immediate concerns.
However, Girona FC in Spain is a different case. With a 47% stake acquired by CFG in 2017, Girona is currently leading La Liga after their promotion in 2022.
This raises the possibility of them qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, creating a potential conflict with UEFA regulations due to common ownership with Manchester City.
If both Manchester City and Girona qualify for the Champions League, UEFA rules prioritize the club finishing higher in their domestic league.
Given Manchester City’s recent struggles and Girona’s strong performance, this could become a significant issue.
UEFA must address the potential regulatory conflict arising from CFG’s expansion and Girona’s unexpected success.
The governing body needs to balance fair competition principles with the realities of multi-club ownership models.
This challenge is not unique to CFG; Manchester United could face similar issues with a potential part-ownership by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, which also owns OGC Nice.
INEOS has reportedly consulted UEFA and received assurances that no major issues would arise, highlighting UEFA’s awareness and the need for adaptable regulations.
The rise in multi-club ownership necessitates that UEFA reassesses and potentially revises its rules to prevent clubs from being unfairly barred from European competitions, despite operating independently.
Girona’s success story exemplifies both the potential and pitfalls of CFG’s multi-club ownership model.
As the team enjoys its best-ever season, CFG’s strategy is tested, pushing UEFA to find solutions that uphold competition integrity while accommodating the evolving landscape of football ownership.
UEFA’s next steps in addressing these issues will be crucial in shaping the future of club football in Europe, ensuring fair rewards for on-pitch success regardless of ownership complexities.