Sports

UEFA clears Manchester City, United, Girona, Nice to participate in UCL, Europa

Published

6 months ago

July 6, 2024

Admin

UEFA on Friday said Manchester City and Girona can both enter the Champions League and Manchester United and Nice can play in the Europa League after addressing multi-club ownership concerns.

Premier League champions City and Girona are both part of the City Group, while Jim Ratcliffe who owns 25 percent of FA Cup winners United also controls Nice through his Ineos company.

UEFA said it had accepted the admission of the four clubs into next season’s European competitions, after previously opening proceedings into them for potential conflict with its ownership rules, “following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned investors in Girona FC and OGC Nice”.

READ ALSO: Real Madrid Punish Wasteful Dortmund To Claim 15th Champions League Crown

“The clubs were able to demonstrate that such changes brought them into compliance with the multi-club ownership rule,” UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) said in a statement.

“No one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

“No one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

“The significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs, substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power over more than one club.”

It said City Group, which owned a 47 percent stake in Girona, and Ineos had transferred their shares to “independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber” until July 2025.

UEFA said that the clubs had also promised not to make any new player transfers to each other, either permanently or on loan, until September 2025 and would not cooperate commercially or on coaching or scouting.

When the stakes are returned next July, the clubs will again need to take steps to satisfy UEFA rules.

Last year, UEFA investigated three cases involving Toulouse and AC Milan, English club Aston Villa and Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes, and Premier League Brighton and Union Royale Saint-Gilloise of Belgium.

AFP

Sports

Newcastle humble Arsenal at Emirates

Published

21 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Newcastle will be delighted to take a 2-0 advantage into the second leg of this semi-final, which will take place at St James’ Park on 5 February, as they look for their first-ever League Cup title.

Arsenal have left themselves an uphill challenge if they are to win the competition for the first time since 1993.

Up next for Arsenal is an FA Cup third-round clash at home to Manchester United before another massive tie as they host the North London Derby in the Premier League next Wednesday.

Newcastle have a slightly more favourable cup draw as they welcome League Two Bromley to St James’ Park before hosting Wolves in the Premier League in the midweek round of games.

Sports

LaLiga: Vinicius banned for two Real Madrid matches

Published

22 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has been given a two-match ban for violent conduct in his team’s 2-1 LaLiga win at Valencia on Friday, the Spanish FA (RFEF) confirmed on Tuesday.

Vinicius was sent off for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in the second half at the Mestalla stadium when his team were trailing 1-0.

After an appeal by the club, the RFEF suspended the striker for two league games, clearing him for Thursday’s Super Cup game against Mallorca.

Real, LaLiga leaders with 43 points, will look to retain their Super Cup title in the four-team tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Sports

Transfer: Peter Cech speaks on new Tottenham signing

Published

2 days ago

January 7, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Petr Cech, a legend at Chelsea, believes that his countryman Antonin Kinsky would excel at Tottenham Hotspur.

The teenage goalie recently moved permanently from Slavia Prague to the north London team. Over the weekend, Kinsky paid £12.5 million to sign with Spurs.

In the upcoming weeks, the 21-year-old will probably start for the Premier League team before Fraser Forster and Brandon Austin, the other goalkeepers.

Cech, who plays ice hockey today and is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, recently opened out about the 21-year-old goalie in an interview with The Playbook House.

“I wouldn’t worry about him being at a disadvantage because of his younger age. When we look at the Premier League, it’s not uncommon to come across players who are maybe 17 years old. When they [players] have something to give to the team, they just play. So, I think with Antonin, it will be all about his performance,” he said.

“I am very happy that he got the opportunity. Tottenham are a traditional club that regularly fights for the UEFA Champions League,” he added. “I believe that he will do well and that the club will suit him. The role in the team should suit him because the head coach wants the goalkeepers to play with their feet, which is his great asset.”