Navigating UEFA Regulations: Girona’s Path to Champions League Participation

In recent times, especially from England, they are echoing the UEFA regulations that could leave Girona without playing next Champions League.The reason? That shares property with the Manchester City, still current winner of the competition. From here to next 3 of Juneclubs must look for a solution to be able to participate without problems in the highest international competition.

“It is a real option and this is established by UEFA’s competition rules. Therefore, the answer is that it is a real option for Girona not to play in the Champions League if the two clubs do not take the necessary measures. It is an option, but It seems that the clubs are already looking for alternatives so that this does not happen,” he explains. Carlos Hurtado (Baker McKenzie) MARCA.

The roadmap, according to the expert on the subject, is clear and outlines three options to solve the problem: “UEFA does not establish what the alternatives are. What they would have would be basically three. The first, the easiest, would be for one of the two clubs to reduce its participation percentage. Seeing who the owners are, it is normal for this reduction to occur in Girona. The second option is to create a commercial structure through which the club, which will probably be Girona, is managed by an independent panel supervised by UEFA in such a way that the decisions made at the club are not influenced by the City group. This seems to be the option that is gaining the most strength in recent weeks. “Then, the third option would be that they do not compete in the same competition if they keep things as they are.”

Although there are other nuances: “If we go to the UEFA rules, which establishes a three-level ranking where competition is prioritized, we would go to the next level to check the position of the teams (Girona would be below) and, in case of that they are equal, we would reach a third level where there is a classification of associations where England is also ahead.

There are precedents

Last year there was a similar UEFA case with some repercussions with AC Milan and Toulouse. There were also two other reasons, but UEFA’s decision was to conclude that the clubs had made the appropriate decisions to be able to compete. In this case, if nothing strange happens, the ending would be the same.

“It depends. The important thing is the key date that UEFA has given, which is June 3. The clubs have already seen this coming for weeks. This is being worked on in advance. Therefore, Girona reduces its participation One way or another it is possible. They are on time and I am convinced that they have been working on it for several days before June 3. UEFA has very strict regulations. It takes the integrity of its competition very seriously, but it is also flexible because it wants to respect the clubs. He wants to help the clubs so that they can comply with the measures, but the first ones who must adapt the measures are the clubs,” adds Hurtado.

Athletic would occupy that place

If the dilemma is not resolved, another LaLiga team would fill the gap left by the Catalans. “City would stay in the Champions League and Girona would drop out of the Europa League. The Spanish team’s place would go to the next one on the list, in this case Athletic Bilbao. But it would be very surprising if this was not fixed in time by Girona and City“says the expert.

Guardiola: “Everything is done, I don’t know what will motivate me to continue, but I have a contract”

Although the Basques find this path more than complicated, the resolution will come first in one form or another: “There are like two clearer options. One is pure and simple sale to an independent third party such as another shareholder, which is usually the Easier. Another option is that a third party comes in and it would work as a sale of the club because a new person would come to decide. Given what we have seen, it doesn’t look like City will want Girona so easily. So the normal thing would be to reduce the deal. participation, leave the control bodies and that’s it. Then he could return after handing over the management of the club to an administrator who would make the club’s decisions. It has even been reported in the press that UEFA would allow this administrator to be appointed by City, although he would always be isolated from the group so that there was no influence between both clubs that could favor them.

Looking at the future

“UEFA has experienced different phases, from a stricter one where it seemed like it was going to regulate everything to another that was a little more lax. UEFA is going to regulate it. I don’t think the regulations are going to go into much detail. But It already tells you what requirements must be met so that it is not considered that there is influence from one club to another with various parameters. That regulation already gives clues or elements to know when you are in a risk zone. I don’t see UEFA coming in short. term to ultra-detailed regulation. They do have to give it a second thought because clubs, like all companies, have good imagination,” he points out.

Míchel: “Girona will play the Champions League in Montilivi”

And he adds: “If UEFA drafts something, they can always leave some door open. They will establish a base regulation that they can still tweak as they have been doing in recent times, but then some margin of discretion will be left in the communication that exists between UEFA. and the clubs. Here I think the only worrying thing would be deadlines and dates, but because of what playing in UEFA means for both clubs, everyone is going to do their best to achieve it well.” Hurtado, as a clarifying summary, indicates that Girona will be “99% in the Champions League”.

The possible casuistry in the Super League

This situation should also be considered in a possible Super League: “It was a closed format initially, now it is not known exactly what it would be like. Of course, for reasons of transparency, there must be something to avoid this type of thing. In no level competition does it happen This situation exists in no other competition in the world. Therefore, for reasons of competition hygiene, this must be an issue that must be on the table.”

2024-05-26 05:26:04
#Manchester #City #Girona #problem #solve #Champions #League