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Girona cannot participate in UCL (Source- Twitter)
UEFA Champions League 2023-24 is almost at the business end of the marquee European tournament. Only four clubs are left from 32 participating teams. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, are the clubs left for the season. The first leg of the semi-final has been over with the clubs, who will meet in the next semi-finals on Tuesday. This is the final season of the old format of the UCL from the upcoming season and there will be a new format for the tournament.
From the 2024/25 season, instead of 32 teams, there will be 36 clubs that are set to participate in the Champions League's league phase, teams will play eight matches in the new league phase and will no longer play three opponents twice home and away instead will face eight different teams, with half of those matches played at home and half away, The eight different opponents, the teams will first be seeded in four pots. Each side will be assigned two opponents from each pot, playing one match at home and one away.
Germany and Italy will have one more spot, like any other nation due to their better coefficient ranking as more clubs from these two nations have qualified for the knockout stages of the game. However, there will be a problem for the newly promoted Girona FC, as the Spanish team is a part of the City Football Group.
Will Girona be able to play UCL next season?
After their brilliant comeback against FC Barcelona, the side are looking great in the league. The club is fearful of not competing in the same competition as the Football Group already has one side Manchester City. The Football Group needs to sell their stakes in order to participate in the tournament.
According to Article 5 of UEFA's Champions League regulations: "No club participating in a UEFA club competition may either directly or indirectly hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, or have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition."