Manchester United finds itself at risk of exclusion from European competitions next season due to a UEFA regulation preventing clubs owned by the same individual from competing against each other. The club’s acquisition by 71-year-old billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group was finalized in December, ending months of speculation. Ratcliffe’s investment of nearly £1 billion secured a 27.7% stake in the club, with plans to increase it to nearly 30% with an additional £238 million infusion.
INEOS already owns Nice, a French club currently ranked fifth in Ligue 1 and in contention for European football. UEFA’s stance is clear: teams under the same ownership cannot participate in the same competition. A UEFA source confirmed this, suggesting that while Manchester United and Nice could potentially feature in different competitions, they are barred from competing against each other due to concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Manchester United, currently trailing behind Tottenham and Aston Villa in European qualifying standings, faces the possibility of securing a European spot through the FA Cup. However, if Manchester City secures the league title, the additional European qualification spot would likely go to Nice, leaving Manchester United out of contention.
If Manchester United secures a fifth-place finish and qualifies for the Europa League, they could end up in the Conference League. Similarly, Nice could face a similar fate if Manchester United secures an FA Cup victory this season. In the scenario where both teams qualify for the Champions League, the spot would be awarded to the higher-ranked team in their respective leagues, with Manchester United given preference due to England’s high UEFA coefficient ranking.
The situation presents a complex set of circumstances for both Manchester United and Nice, as they navigate the intricacies of UEFA regulations and competitive standings to secure their places in European football next season.
