Soccer-Ciudad de Murcia sell second division place to Granada

MADRID, June 7 (Reuters) - Granada 74 have become the first Spanish club to buy a place in a higher league by purchasing Ciudad de Murcia's berth in the second division.

Granada 74 have taken advantage of new regulations introduced prior to this season that allow clubs to sell their right to compete in the league to another team, rather like the franchises that are common in American sport.

Spanish media said Granada president Carlos Marsa paid about 20 million euros ($26.99 million) to buy Ciudad de Murcia's place but had to sell the club's ground to finance the deal.

Granada 74 played in the Andalucian league this season and earned promotion to the regionally-based third division.

They will now be fast-tracked to the second division but with the Granada local council refusing to allow them to share the Los Carmenes stadium with the city's other two clubs they must look for a new ground somewhere else in the region.

League rules specify that second division clubs require a 6,000 capacity stadium to play in the championship.

Marsa said players under contract to Ciudad de Murcia could transfer to Granada 74 but that given the club's change in location they would be allowed to rescind their contracts.

Ciudad de Murcia are fourth in the second division with two games left but have no chance of promotion to the Primera Liga.