UEFA have confirmed that AC Milan and Toulouse will both be able to participate in the respective European competitions they have qualified for.
Given the rules regarding clubs with the same ownership not being jointly admitted to European competitions, there was some worry about the fact Milan made the Champions League and Toulouse qualified for the Europa League by virtue of their cup win.
In multi-club ownership cases, UEFA rules give priority to the team that placed higher in its domestic league last season. The lower-ranked team risked being removed.
However, UEFA (via AP) has certified that three ‘pairs’ of teams united by the same stakeholder (entities with interests in the club) have returned to the parameters allowed to be admitted to the European cups in the same season.
The First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body had previously initiated proceedings against:
– Aston Villa FC (ENG) and Vitória Sport Clube (POR);
– Brighton & Hove Albion FC (ENG) and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL);
– AC Milan (ITA) and Toulouse FC (FRA)
due to a potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule set out in Article 5 of the UEFA club competitions rules.
“Following the implementation of significant changes by the clubs and their investors, the First Chamber of the CFCB has accepted the admission of the aforementioned companies to the UEFA club competitions for the 2023/24 season.
The CFCB found that the significant changes implemented resulted in the clubs complying with the multi-club ownership rule.
“More specifically, the significant changes that have been implemented relate to the ownership, governance and financial structure of the affected clubs.
“These changes substantially limit investor influence and decision-making power over more than one club while ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule. […] The First Chamber of the CFCB will continue to monitor the aforementioned clubs to ensure that the multi-club ownership rule continues to be enforced in the future.”