Lausanne (AFP) – German outfit RB Leipzig and Austrian champions Salzburg, both owned by energy drinks giant Red Bull, will be allowed to play in next season’s Champions League, UEFA confirmed on Tuesday.
The possibility of one of the teams being forbidden from competing in Europe’s elite club competition had been raised because they have the same owner.
But UEFA said in a statement that their Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had ruled that there was no breach of regulations on the integrity of the competition in allowing them to play.
“Following a thorough investigation, and further to several important governance and structural changes made by the clubs (regarding corporate matters, financing, personnel, sponsorship arrangements, etc.), the CFCB deemed that no individual or legal entity had anymore a decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition,” said the statement.
RB Leipzig qualified automatically for the group stage after finishing second behind champions Bayern Munich in their first ever season in the top flight of the German Bundesliga.
Salzburg have just won a fourth consecutive Austrian league and cup double. They will be aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time.
