UEFA takes decision on Man Utd, Man City playing Europa, UCL next season

UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body, CFCB, has cleared Manchester City and Manchester United to take part in European competition next season.

Both City and LaLiga side Girona qualified for the Champions League.

There were doubts over whether both teams will be allowed to play in the competition, as they are both part of the City Football Group.

United, meanwhile, earned a Europa League ticket by winning the FA Cup along with Nice. The Ligue 1 club is also under the control of Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group.

Two clubs under the same ownership being in one European competition creates a potential conflict with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, and changes had to be made at board level for all four clubs to be admitted.

UEFA confirmed on Friday that there had been “significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs” which would “substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power”.

The shares held in Girona and Nice have been transferred to independent trustees “through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB”.

The measure applies for the 2024/2025 season, after which the shares will transfer back to City Football Group and INEOS.

UEFA takes decision on Man Utd, Man City playing Europa, UCL next season