UEFA gives green light to Girona FC to compete in Champions League

Girona FC wrapped up qualification for the Champions League for the first time in their history with a win over FC Barcelona in May, but off the pitch there remained the question: Can Girona play in the Champions League as part of City Football Group? 

European football's governing body gave the answer Girona fans were hoping for on Friday, releasing a statement greenlighting the club's participation in the same competition as Manchester City. 

"The First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB First Chamber) had previously opened proceedings involving Girona FC and Manchester City FC (ENG) due to a potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule provided for in Article 5 of the UEFA club competitions regulations," the statement read. 

"Following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned investors in Girona FC (City Football Group), the CFCB First Chamber accepted the admission of Girona FC and Manchester City FC to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League." 

"The clubs were able to demonstrate that such changes brought them into compliance with the multi-club ownership rule, considering that no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition." 

"More specifically, the significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs, substantially restrict the investors' influence and decision-making power over more than one club, ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule during the 2024/25 season."  

The statement also explained that certain investors transferred their shares "to independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber," adding, that "such blind trust was accepted by the CFCB First Chamber on an exceptional basis for the 2024/25 UEFA competitions." 

Girona FC must comply with a number of stipulated rules throughout the season and "regularly exchange information with the CFCB First Chamber."  

In addition, "the clubs will not transfer players to each other, whether permanently or on loan, directly or indirectly, from July 2024 until September 2025, with the exception of pre-existing transfer agreements that had been entered into before the opening of the CFCB proceedings; the clubs will not conclude any kind of cooperation, joint technical or commercial agreements between each other; and the clubs will not use any joint scouting or player database." 

The statement concludes that from July 1, 2025, the shares in Girona FC will be transferred back to their investor. As a result, in the absence of any major modifications to the club's shareholding, governance or financing, the club "shall be considered, as from that date, under the control or decisive influence of their investor."