Arsenal is set to adapt to UEFA’s sponsorship regulations for their pivotal Champions League round of 16 second-leg match against Porto tonight. Despite a strong showing in the first leg, Arsenal trails 1-0 on aggregate due to a last-minute goal by Porto’s Wenderson Galeno.
UEFA’s rules stipulate that during European competitions, club stadiums must be referred to by non-commercial names, leading to the ‘Arsenal Stadium’ designation for the match venue typically known as the Emirates Stadium. This policy also impacts Manchester City, whose home ground reverts to ‘The City of Manchester Stadium’ for European games.
Additionally, UEFA’s regulations extend to club names and ownership. Teams like Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg must modify their names and crests to comply with the rules, becoming FC Salzburg in UEFA competitions. Ownership rules are also strict, allowing only one club per owner to compete, which could potentially affect Manchester City and Manchester United, given their owners’ interests in Girona and Nice, respectively, who are vying for Champions League qualification.