Manchester United’s participation in next season’s Europa League is jeopardised, notwithstanding their recent FA Cup victory over Manchester City.
Erik Ten Hag’s team qualified for the European competition after a 2-1 victory at Wembley over the weekend.
However, United’s participation in the Europa League is jeopardised by UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, which might result in their exclusion from the competition.
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The UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules ban two teams controlled by the same organisation from competing in the same tournament.
INEOS owns both Manchester United and Nice. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company wholly owns Nice and has an interest in Manchester United.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS now owns a 27% share in United and intends to boost its investment by £245 million, bringing its ownership over 30%.
On Christmas Eve 2023, Manchester United announced that it had signed an agreement with INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe to acquire up to 25% of the club.
This would put INEOS in violation of UEFA regulations while maintaining exclusive ownership of Nice, which finished fifth in Ligue 1 and qualified for the Europa League.
Nice finished fifth in the French top flight, earning a spot in next season’s Europa League.
If INEOS fails to address the issue, one of its clubs may be demoted to the UEFA Conference League.
If INEOS fails to resolve the ownership disagreement, one of its clubs may be demoted to the UEFA Conference League.
Given Nice’s stronger league performance (5th), they are expected to retain their Europa League spot, relegating Manchester United instead (8th).
Manchester United is not alone in this predicament.
City Football Group, Manchester City’s parent business, is dealing with a similar situation with its 47% ownership of Spanish team Girona.
UEFA ordered earlier this month that City Football Group lower its interest in Girona in order for the Spanish club to compete in the Champions League next season, following their excellent run to a top-four finish.
The UEFA Club Financial Control Body has revised its multi-club ownership rules to prohibit any “decisive influence” over numerous clubs competing in the same European competition.
This means that clubs with joint ownership stakes must comply with these regulations in order to compete in European championships. Meanwhile, neither club has made a public announcement on their next steps.