UEFA thanks EC for backing over club ownership rules

UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner has thanked the European Commission (EC) for its support of UEFA's tough soccer club ownership rules. Last week, the EC rejected a complaint by British sports and entertainment group ENIC - which has a stake in six clubs - that the ownership rules of UEFA distorted competition.

"We are very satisfied that the Commission has recognised that the measure which we took is both a legitimate sporting rule and a proportionate one," Aigner said.

"From our perspective we feel this represents another important step forward in the development of good mutual understanding between UEFA and the EC."

UEFA's rules say that no two clubs or more taking part in a UEFA club competition may be directly or indirectly controlled by the same entity or managed by the same person.

The EC has the final say in competition disputes in Europe and covers all sectors - from heavy industry to leisure and sport.

ENIC lodged its complaint in February, claiming UEFA's rules distorted competition by preventing and restricting investment in Euro clubs.

But the EC said ENIC owned stakes in six clubs, including 25.1 per cent of Rangers, 29.9 per cent of Tottenham and 47 per cent of AEK Athens.