Manchester United’s spot in next season’s Europa League, secured after their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, is now at risk due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. The issue arises from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS owning both Manchester United and the French club Nice.
UEFA’s regulations prohibit two clubs with the same owner from competing in the same European competition. INEOS, which owns Nice outright, has a substantial stake in Manchester United that is set to increase, potentially breaching these rules.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company currently holds a 27% stake in Manchester United and announced plans to increase this investment to over 30%. Both clubs have qualified for the Europa League, with Nice finishing fifth in Ligue 1 and Manchester United earning their spot through the FA Cup.
According to UEFA’s rules, if the ownership conflict isn’t resolved, one of the clubs might have to move to the UEFA Conference League. Since Nice qualified directly through their league performance and Manchester United via a domestic cup win, Nice is more likely to retain their Europa League position.
If no resolution is found, Manchester United would be demoted to the Conference League. This scenario highlights a broader issue in European football, as seen with the City Football Group, which faced a similar situation with its ownership of Manchester City and Girona. UEFA required the group to reduce its stake in Girona to allow the Spanish club to compete in the Champions League.
UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body has intensified the enforcement of these ownership rules to prevent any decisive influence over multiple clubs in the same competitions. Clubs with shared ownership are now under greater scrutiny to ensure compliance with these regulations, impacting their eligibility for UEFA tournaments.
