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Published on 2024-02-23 06:55:00
Former Everton chief Keith Wyness has insisted that UEFA should not allow Manchester City owners City Football Group to enter the Champions League. Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the CEO suggested that City could miss out on Champions League football if La Liga club Girona also qualify for the competition.
Girona, currently ranked second in the Spanish top tier, could become the first City Football Group club outside of England to qualify for Europe’s premier competition. The multi-club organization has recently affiliated with Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir, but the agreement is described as a ‘football collaboration’ rather than a takeover.
City Football Group owns 12 clubs and has partnerships with four more, with Man City being the jewel in the crown of the Abu Dhabi-backed outfit. Wyness stated that there is a case that if Girona won La Liga, Man City could be denied Champions League participation. He mentioned that the rules must be strengthened and that if clubs from the same group are not allowed to play against each other, he has no problem with it.
Wyness also discussed the global aspect of having clubs from different parts of the world playing in the Champions League, which would help grow the game. He mentioned that it’s up to UEFA to take a stand and deny City Football Group, and that multi-club groups need to be careful about who they buy. He further stated that we need to guard against clubs of the same ownership playing against each other.
Meanwhile, Guardiola has privately named the only Man United star good enough to play for Man City. For more Man City news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.
In conclusion, the future participation of Manchester City in the Champions League is uncertain, as Girona’s potential qualification could pose a significant obstacle. UEFA’s stance on multi-club ownership and its impact on club participation in European competitions is under scrutiny.
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