Leading English Clubs May Face Exclusion From Competing In The Champions League In The Upcoming Season.
In December, the long-awaited announcement confirming the acquisition of the team by 71-year-old billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally came through a statement from the club, putting an end to months of speculation. Ratcliffe, alongside his INEOS Group, made a substantial investment of nearly £1 billion to secure a 27.7% stake in the team, with the potential to increase that share to almost 30% with an additional investment of £238 million. Notably, the INEOS company also owns Nice, a French football club currently holding fifth place in Ligue 1 and eyeing European football opportunities. UEFA has acknowledged the ownership connections, instituting a rule that prohibits teams owned by the same group from participating in the same competition.
According to a UEFA insider who spoke to SunSport, this regulation stipulates that although both Manchester United and Nice could potentially compete in different competitions, they cannot be in the same one. Presently, Manchester United, under the management of Erik ten Hag, is trailing behind Tottenham by six points and Aston Villa by nine points in the European qualification race. Despite this, there remains optimism for Manchester United, particularly in the FA Cup, which could serve as a pathway to European tournaments. If Manchester City secures the league title, their opponents would earn an additional league spot, potentially providing a route to European qualification for Manchester United.
However, complications arise due to the shared ownership with Nice. If both Manchester United and Nice secure Europa League positions through their domestic league standings, priority would be given to Nice. Consequently, Manchester United would be relegated to the Conference League, assuming they secure a Europa League berth via a fifth-place finish. Nonetheless, if Manchester United were to win the FA Cup, they would secure a spot in the Conference League, while Nice would face relegation to the same competition. In the event where both teams qualify for the Champions League, the team with the superior domestic league standing would be awarded the spot. Nonetheless, due to England’s high ranking in UEFA’s coefficient, Manchester United would still be given precedence, even if both teams finish at the same position domestically.
