Arsenal and Liverpool can kick Man City out of Champions League as vital FFP rule emerges

Manchester City's participation in next year's Champions League could be in jeopardy due to Girona's success in La Liga. Girona, partly owned by the City Football Group, are challenging for the title in Spain.

UEFA rules state that two clubs owned by the same entity cannot compete in the same European competition. If Girona finish second and Arsenal and Liverpool claim the top two spots in the Premier League, then City could be excluded from the Champions League.

The i reports that UEFA is keeping a close eye on the relationship between Manchester City and Girona. This comes after the La Liga club announced they would be transferring 19-year-old winger Savio from Spain to Manchester following an impressive season under head coach Michel.

If both City and Girona qualify for the Champions League, City may have to reduce their stake in Girona. This situation mirrors what happened with Aston Villa and Brighton when they qualified for the same European competition as sister teams Vitoria de Guimaraes and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise respectively. Manchester United could face a similar issue once Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25 per cent purchase is approved, as he also owns Ligue 1 side Nice.

UEFA's Club Financial Control Body will examine the connection between City and Girona in the summer if a conflict arises. If no significant changes are made behind the scenes, both clubs' participation in the Champions League could be at risk.

According to UEFA's competition rules, an individual or group cannot exert «control or influence» over more than one club participating in the same tournament. If an investigation finds that individuals within the City Football Group share control over both clubs and fail to make necessary changes to their