Girona are joint-top of La Liga, with 25 points from their opening 10 games of the season. The team, as outstanding as they have been, have no doubt been helped by the fact that they belong to the City Group, which also owns other clubs, including Manchester City.
AS has spoken to Carlos Hurtado, a sports lawyer specialising in multi-club ownership at Baker McKenzie, a firm with offices in some 70 countries around the world. Among other matters, Baker McKenzie has dealt with the purchase of clubs by foreign investors such as Mallorca and also advises players from top teams such as Real Madrid.
Hurtado has discussed the possibility of a conflict of interest if Girona qualify for the Champions League this season, a competition in which Pep Guardiola’s team will almost certainly be in.
“It’s true that UEFA has lowered the requirements in this respect, but I’m sure that if the two clubs are in the same competition, they will go into great detail to see what influence City have on Girona,” he explained.
“If they decide that level of influence is significant, they won’t let the two play together in the Champions League.”
Kieran Quaile | GSFN
