Kang's spending fuels resentment but Barcelona are far from a model club

UEFA enforced rules barring clubs with the same owner from playing each other in European competitions, affecting Michele Kang’s ambitions for London City Lionesses. Kang’s teams then suffered two continental final defeats, with OL Lyonnes losing 4-0 to Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final and the Washington Spirit losing 5-3 to Club América in the Concacaf W Champions Cup final. After Barcelona’s victory, goalkeeper Cata Coll made remarks about money in football that spread widely. She emphasized that money is not everything and credited La Masia and the players promoted to the first team for Barcelona’s strength. Her comments were widely interpreted as a response to Kang’s wealth and multi-club ownership approach.

"UEFA director of women's football, Nadine Kessler, was firm on the enforcement of rules prohibiting clubs with the same owner from playing each other in European competitions, dealing a blow to Kang, who has ambitions of taking London City Lionesses into Europe's premier competition, but also owns the tournament's most decorated side, OL Lyonnes."

"Then, across the weekend, Kang teams suffered two continental final defeats, with Lyonnes losing 4-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final before her US outfit, Washington Spirit, fell short in the Concacaf W Champions Cup with a 5-3 reverse to the Mexican side Club America."

"Speaking to the Catalan TV channel Esport3 in Oslo on Saturday evening, the Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll made some pointed remarks about money in football after their emphatic victory, and her words went viral. There has been criticism but we have shown the team we are, she said. Money isn't everything."

"We are privileged to have La Masia and all the girls that have come up to the first team: Aicha Camara, Carla [Julia Martinez], [Martine] Fenger, [Clara] Serrajordi, all of them. They are incredible. It says everything and that's why I say it. Many have assumed it was a jab at Kang and the use of her wealth to pursue glory in women's football."

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