Why can Red Bull have two teams in the Champions League and City cannot? Understand the difference

Girona, from Spain, is at risk of not competing in the European competition even though qualified. The 2024/25 edition of the Champions League has not even started, but it is already topic off the field. This is because the English Manchester City and the Spanish Girona have secured a spot in the next season’s tournament, but both have the City Group (CFG) as a shareholder. Article 5 of the UEFA regulations details that no individual, legal entity, or club is allowed to have shares, be involved, have power or control, and influence in more than one team that participates in European tournaments.

Therefore, according to the British newspaper The Times, UEFA presented two options to CFG so that Girona’s earned spot in the European competition is not compromised. However, why does this rule not affect the Austrian RB Salzburg and the German RB Leipzig, which are linked to Red Bull?

The duo is just another example that the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) has been flexible with the rule over the years and allowed the participation of clubs owned by the same owner in European competitions. Just in the 2023/24 season, for example, Milan and Toulouse (from RedBird) could participate in the Champions League and Europa League, respectively.

In addition to them, Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise (Tony Bloom) and Aston Villa and Vitória de Guimarães (V Sports) were also cleared by the CFCB and joined UEFA competitions in the same season.

Therefore, the expectation is for Girona to prove its autonomy and be granted permission by the entity to play the Champions League 2024/25. The decision lies with the UEFA Disciplinary Committee and should be announced before the start of the European football season, which begins in the middle of the year.