MANCHESTER CITY could be thrown out of next season’s Champions League if they fail to win the Premier League.
The treble winners could be denied entry if sister club Girona win La Liga.
AlamyPep Guardiola and Manchester City could be thrown out of next season’s Champions League[/caption]
Both clubs are members of the City Football Group, who have complete ownership in City and are the largest single shareholders in Girona with a 47 per cent stake.
Uefa rules currently state that if clubs with the same owners qualify for the same competition, only the side with the highest league position will be allowed to enter.
The lower ranked side would instead be moved down to the next competition, which in this case would be the Europa League.
Girona are currently two points clear at the top of La Liga after beating Barcelona on Sunday.
This season’s La Liga surprise package have never qualified for Europe, with 10th place their highest finish from three previous top flight seasons.
Meanwhile, City sit fourth in the Premier League and four points off leaders Liverpool.
Based on the two clubs’ current standings, Girona would enter the Champions League over last season’s winners.
Fortunately for the City and Girona, though, CFG’s stake in Girona is below majority ownership and therefore avoids breaching Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules.
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Girona are two points clear at the top of La Liga after beating Barcelona on SundayRex
However, John MacBeath is a director at both clubs according to their official websites and would have to step down from one of those rules if they both qualify for Europe.
Uefa could also ban CFG from transferring players between the two clubs, although the Telegraph report European football’s governing body are considering relaxing their multi-club ownership rules.
The issues facing City could also impact Manchester United once Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchases a 25 per cent stake in the club.
French side Nice are already owned by the British billionaire’s Ineos group and are second in Ligue 1, putting them on course for Champions League qualification.
If Nice maintain their current pace, the Red Devils would require a top two finish to enter the Champions League, a position they find themselves nine points below in sixth.