Reports indicate that Manchester City (Man City) might face expulsion from the previous season’s Champions League, even if they secure qualification for the upcoming tournament.
Currently occupying the second spot in the Premier League standings, Pep Guardiola’s squad trails Liverpool by two points, albeit with a game in hand.
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A triumph in their postponed match would widen the gap to nine points ahead of fifth-placed Aston Villa. However, new Champions League coefficient regulations dictate that a fifth-place finish would secure entry into the next season’s competition.
Meanwhile, City is focused on defending their Champions League title, commencing with a two-legged round of 16 clash against FC Copenhagen starting in Denmark on Tuesday.
A recent report unveils the possibility of their exclusion from the tournament next season due to unforeseen circumstances.
The City Football Group holds a significant stake, 47 percent, in Girona, currently enjoying a strong position in La Liga under Michel Sanchez, trailing Real Madrid by five points at second place.
This meteoric rise contrasts sharply with Girona’s status two seasons ago when they competed in Spain’s second tier.
However, concerns arise regarding City Football Group’s association with Girona under prevailing ownership regulations, potentially jeopardizing the reigning Champions League champions’ participation.
Speculation suggests that if both clubs secure qualification and Girona outperforms City’s Premier League finish in La Liga, City may be disqualified from the Champions League next season.
Consequently, Liverpool and Arsenal could influence City’s fate by outperforming them in the current Premier League season.
Nevertheless, if City and Girona finish in equivalent positions, City’s access would be secured due to England’s top ranking on UEFA’s ‘access list,’ resolving any potential conflict.
According to the report, UEFA is presently “monitoring the situation” and will “assess links between the clubs in the summer if a conflict is confirmed.”
Furthermore, it is alleged that if a conflict impacts either of the clubs, the City Football Group might be compelled to diminish its ownership stake in Girona, potentially evolving into an ongoing scenario.
