Man United ‘will be ALLOWED’ to play alongside sister side Nice in next season’s Europa League ‘subject to certain conditions’… though UEFA could ‘change’ multi-ownership rules
- Manchester United and sister club Nice both qualified for the Europa League
- UEFA will rule on multi-club ownership issues on Monday
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UEFA will reportedly allow Manchester United to play in the Europa League next season despite the European governing body’s restrictions on multi-club ownership.
United and Nice, also owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company Ineos, have both qualified for the competition next season.
As Mail Sport reported in March, an updated version of UEFA’s integrity laws stated that in the event that two clubs from the same ownership group qualified for the same competition, only one would be admitted.
This would normally be given to the team that finished higher in their respective league, with Nice in 5th place and Manchester United in 8th. However, United did win the FA Cup, a trophy that sees the winners automatically progress to next season’s Europa League unless they qualify for the Champions League.
The times have reported that Manchester United have been given permission by UEFA to compete in the same league as Nice next season under certain conditions, although this could be a one-off.
UEFA will reportedly allow Manchester United to play in the Europa League next season
United and Nice – also owners of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos – both qualified for the competition
UEFA will reportedly rule on multi-ownership issues on Monday, allowing both clubs to compete in the Europa League (Atalanta star Ademola Lookman pictured with the trophy)
The newspaper claims Nice is being told it should be managed through a ‘blind trust’, by a UEFA-approved panel.
That model was used this season in a deal between AC Milan, Toulouse and their American investor Red Bird Capital.
It is said that clubs will also be told that the 2024/25 season will be considered a transitional season, and that there will be ‘not as much wiggle room’ in future years.
A document seen by the Times states that a blind trust would be a ‘temporary alternative granted on an exceptional basis’ for next season and that changes to multi-club ownership rules could change in coming years.
The ruling would also mean that both Manchester City and Girona would be allowed to participate in the Champions League.
Girona – owned by City Football Group – could have been hit if UEFA had taken their original position on the matter, as they finished third in LaLiga and could have dropped to the Europa League – given that Man City won the Premier League title .
The LaLiga side, like Nice, should also be managed through a blind trust.
Ineos bought Nice in 2019, before acquiring a 27.7 percent stake in United this season.
Nice finished higher in Ligue 1 than Manchester United in the Premier League
The ruling would also allow Man City and Girona to both play in the Champions League
However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has committed another £245 million investment in United, which will take Ineos’ stake above the 30 percent threshold under UEFA rules.
Ratcliffe also owns Swiss Super League team Lausanne, although they have failed to qualify for any European competition this season.
Ineos said in a statement: ‘We are aware of the position of both clubs and are in direct dialogue with UEFA. We are confident we have a route forward for next season in Europe.
