Uefa warns that women's clubs won't be exempt over multi-club rules

It means US billionaire Kang may have to sell or place into a blind trust either French side OL Lyonnes or London City Lionesses if they both qualify for European competition in future years.

Kessler was speaking ahead of Saturday's Women's Champions League final in Oslo, which will pit OL Lyonnes against Barcelona.

Lyonnes are eight-time winners and mainstays of the competition, while sister club London City Lionesses finished sixth on their Women's Super League debut this year and have ambitions to qualify for Europe.

Other multi-club groups in women's football include Mercury 13, which owns FC Como Women, Badalona and Bristol City Women, and Crux Sports, which owns Rosengard and Montpellier.

"There is an evolution of multi-club owners in women's football and they invest a lot into the game, which is important," said Uefa women's football chief Nadine Kessler.

"But at the same time, when it comes to playing in one football competition, there will be no different approach and no exceptions when it comes to the women's game, and this is being closely monitored.

"Why would we want to preserve the sporting integrity of men's football, but not of women's football?"

All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Robins, delivered straight to your inbox.

It's completely free and you can sign up HERE

In the men's game, Crystal Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League this season because of multi-club ownership issues arising from former shareholder John Textor's majority stake in Lyon.

Valuations in women's football make it easier to amass multi-club networks, which promise efficiencies in operating costs.

"We all think of smart ways of sharing resources and other things, and I'm sure these owners do a lot too," said Kessler.

"But in the end, when it comes to what's happening on the pitch, our job as the competition organisers, of course, is to make sure that everything is 100 per cent fair and that there is not even a perceived breach of integrity."

Join Bristol City Live's Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone

Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.

Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.