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Kang faces potential European clash as Arsenal’s slow starts persist
London City Lionesses lost 2-1 to Manchester City despite a strong performance, but remain third in the WSL and have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League. That could create a competition issue if London City and OL Lyonnes, both owned by Michelle Kang, qualify for Europe.
Arsenal again fell behind early and drew with Aston Villa, raising questions about Renée Slegers’ ability to address the team’s slow starts and struggles against defensive opponents. Chelsea beat Charlton 6-0, though Lauren James went off with a hamstring injury; Tottenham ended a three-match losing run with a 4-1 win, as Drew Spence set a WSL record with her 217th start.
In short
- London City remain third despite losing to Manchester City.
- Arsenal’s repeated slow starts are putting pressure on Renée Slegers.
- Lauren James left Chelsea’s 6-0 win with a hamstring injury.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If London City Lionesses and OL Lyonnes both qualify for European competition, UEFA should apply its ownership rules consistently to protect the integrity of the tournament. Where common ownership creates a risk of influence over two clubs in the same competition, requiring a club to change ownership or otherwise resolve the conflict could help ensure fair competition for players, supporters and rival teams.
The case against
Both clubs should be allowed to compete if they qualify on sporting merit, since shared ownership alone does not show that either would receive unfair treatment. Any restriction could penalise players and supporters for decisions made by their owner, so UEFA should consider whether practical safeguards can address the concern before excluding or requiring a sale of a club.
Explained simply
The Women’s Super League is England’s top women’s football league, and its leading teams can qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League. London City Lionesses are a relatively new club owned by American businesswoman Michelle Kang, who also owns French club OL Lyonnes.
If both clubs qualify for the same European competition, UEFA’s rules on clubs under common ownership may affect their participation. Arsenal are another major WSL club; their manager, Renée Slegers, is responsible for preparing the team and addressing recurring patterns in its performances.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “WSL talking points: Kang could have a problem and how long can Slegers hang on?”.