UEFA approves multiple participations in 24/25 club competitions

UEFA has officially given the green light for clubs with equal ownership status to participate in European competitions.

This historic change opens up new opportunities for groups such as City Football Group and INEOS, which own the Girona-Manchester City and Nice-Manchester United matches respectively.

This decision is being watched closely by the Friedkins, as they could find themselves in a similar situation if they were to take over the Everton shares.

If the Toffees and Roma qualify for UEFA competitions, both clubs would be able to participate without restrictions thanks to this new policy.

UEFA issued the following statement:

Following significant changes made by the investors concerned in Girona FC and OGC Nice (City Football Group and INEOS respectively), the First Chamber of the CFCB accepted the admission of Girona FC and Manchester City FC to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League and of Manchester United FC and OGC Nice to the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League. The clubs were able to demonstrate that these changes would enable them to comply with the multi-club ownership rule, taking into account the following points:

• No person is simultaneously directly or indirectly involved in any capacity 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 in the ownership, governance and financial support of the clubs concerned significantly limit the influence and decision-making power of investors over more than one club, thus ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule during the 2024/25 season.

In particular, the investors concerned have transferred their shares in Girona FC and OGC Nice to independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the First Chamber of the CFCB. Such a blind trust has been exceptionally approved by the First Chamber of the CFCB for the 2024/25 UEFA competitions. The trustees will regularly exchange information with the First Chamber of the CFCB during the 2024/25 season.

This results in the following for the 2024/25 season at the level of Girona FC and OGC Nice:

• the actual control and decision-making of these clubs rests solely with the Trustee;

• the investor is no longer represented on the board following the resignation of its board members and has no possibility to directly appoint new board members;

• the Trustee has appointed the new Board members;

• investors have no opportunity to influence sports-related decisions;

• the investors have no possibility to influence the association through veto rights or contractual agreements with other shareholders;

• investors are limited in their ability to provide follow-on financing;

• The club’s financial statements will be deconsolidated from the investors’ holding company.

As further proof of their independence, the clubs concerned have also committed themselves to the following:

• the clubs will not transfer players between each other, either permanently or on loan, directly or indirectly, between July 2024 and September 2025, with the exception of existing transfer agreements concluded before the opening of the CFCB procedure;

• the clubs will not enter into any cooperation or joint technical or commercial agreements with each other; and

• The clubs do not use a common scouting or player database.

As of 1 July 2025, the shares in Girona FC and OGC Nice will be transferred back to their respective investors. Unless there are any material changes to the clubs’ shares, governance or financing, the above-mentioned clubs will be deemed to be under the control or decisive influence of their investor from that date.

The First Chamber of the CFCB will continue to monitor the above situations to ensure that the multi-club ownership rule is also respected in the 2024/25 season.