LUEFA has accepted the admission in the European competitions of the next season of the astonville and the Victoria Guimaraeson the one hand, from Brighton and the Royal Union Saint Gilloiseon the other, and Milan and the Toulousewhich share among themselves the same owner.
Previously, the First Chamber of Financial Control of UEFA Clubs had opened proceedings against these clubs due to a possible conflict with the timeshare rule of clubs listed in article 5 of the UEFA club competition regulations. The European organization prevents two or more clubs managed by the same company or owners from competing in European competitions at the same time. UEFA came across the cases of Aston Villa and Vitoria, Brighton and Union St. Gilloise and Milan and Toulouse.
However, the European body indicated that by verifying “significant changes on the part of the clubs and their related investors, the First Chamber of the CFCB accepted the admission of the aforementioned clubs to UEFA club competitions for the 2023/24 season. “. The CFCB found that the significant changes implemented led clubs to comply with the multi-club ownership rule, considering that from now on, “no club, either directly or indirectly, owns or deals in securities or shares of any other club.” club participating in a UEFA club competition; no club is a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; no one has any power or participates simultaneously, directly or indirectly, in any management position, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club in a UEFA club competition.”
More specifically, the significant changes that have been implemented relate to the ownership, governance and financing structure of the clubs in question. These changes substantially restrict the influence and decision-making power of investors over more than one club, ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule.
Some of the significant actions taken include “a significant reduction in investors’ equity interest in one of the clubs, or transfer of effective control and decision-making of one of the clubs to an independent party; significant restrictions on the ability to Provide funding to more than one club No representation on the board of directors and no ability to directly appoint new directors to the board of directors of more than one club No ability to exercise control over more than one club at the level of the board of directors or its general meetings through veto rights or contractual agreements entered into with other shareholders.
Furthermore, as further proof of his independence, All interested clubs accepted the following conditions: “Clubs will not transfer players to each other, either permanently or on loan, directly or indirectly, until September 2024; Clubs will not enter into any kind of cooperation, joint technical or commercial agreements; and * Clubs will not use no joint scouting or player database.”
In cases of multi-club ownership, UEFA rules give priority to the highest-ranked team in their domestic league last season.. The lowest ranked team risks being eliminated. The regulations on this matter, of several clubs belonging to the same owner, were more clearly established in 2017 when Leipzig and Salzburg both qualified for the Champions League. UEFA allowed them to play the top continental tournament despite the fact that both were part of the Red Bull group.
