This Saturday (4), the Gironafrom Spain, achieved an unprecedented feat in its history: by beat Barcelona 4-2per LALIGAthe alvirrubra team qualified for the 1st time for the UEFA Champions League.
However, fans of the Catalan team cannot start a wild party yet, as it is still uncertain whether the club will actually be able to compete in the European tournament.
It turns out that Girona belongs to the City Football Groupwho also owns the Manchester City, from England. UEFA, in turn, prevents teams owned by the same owner from competing in the same competition.
The Spanish team had 44.3% of its shares purchased by the Abu Dhabi group in 2017.
Since then, the UAE fund has further increased its holding, currently holding 47% from the Catalonia team.
UEFA, in turn, requires teams participating in European tournaments to have “independent decision-making structures” to be able to participate in international tournaments.
At the moment, Girona’s structure is divided between three main owners, functioning as follows:
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47% of City Football Group
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35% by Bolivian businessman Marcelo Claurewho is also owner/president of Bolívar
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16% of Girona Football Groupwhich is commanded by Pere Guardiolacoach’s brother Josep Guardiola
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two% of minority shareholders
According to the ESPN with club sources, Girona believes it will be able to prove to UEFA that it has sufficient autonomy in its decision-making process to participate in the Champions.
If in fact it succeeds, the Catalan team will receive special permission from the entity that governs European football, and will be able to compete normally in the tournament.
According to sources, the matter will be definitively resolved by the UEFA Disciplinary Committee before the start of the 2024/25 season.
It is worth remembering that this situation has happened several times in recent years with clubs with the same owner in UEFA tournaments, such as:
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RB Leipzig (ALE) and Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
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Aston Villa (ING) and Vitória de Guimarães (POR)
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Brighton (ING) and Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)
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Milan (ITA) and Toulouse (FRA)
However, in all cases the teams managed to prove their independence in management and were authorized by UEFA to play in the same competitions.
On all occasions, the only “veto” made by the entity was related to possible negotiations of athletes between teams in the same group.
Girona’s next games
*Mark Ogden, from Manchester (ENG) contributed
