Leading English Clubs May Face Exclusion From Competing In The Champions League In The Upcoming Season.

In December, the formal declaration of the acquisition of the team was made by 71-year-old tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe, marking the conclusion of months of speculation, as stated in an official club announcement. Ratcliffe, alongside his INEOS Group, committed nearly £1 billion to secure a significant 27.7% share in the team, with the potential for this stake to increase to nearly 30% with an additional investment of £238 million. It’s notable that INEOS also holds ownership of Nice, a French football club currently occupying the fifth spot in Ligue 1 and poised for European football.

The ownership ties between these clubs prompted UEFA to acknowledge that teams under the same ownership are barred from participating in the same competition. A source within UEFA confirmed to SunSport that this regulation applies, clarifying that while both Manchester United and Nice could vie in different competitions, they are prohibited from competing in the same one due to regulatory changes. Manchester United, under the management of Erik ten Hag, currently lags behind Tottenham by six points and Aston Villa by nine points in the European qualification race.

Nonetheless, there remains optimism for Manchester United, particularly in the FA Cup, which could serve as a gateway to European tournaments. If Manchester City clinches the league title, an additional league spot would be allocated to their opponents, potentially offering Manchester United a route to European qualification. However, complications arise from the shared ownership with Nice.

In the event that both Manchester United and Nice secure Europa League berths through their domestic league standings, precedence would be given to Nice. Consequently, Manchester United would find themselves relegated to the Conference League, provided they secure a Europa League berth through a fifth-place finish. However, winning the FA Cup would guarantee Manchester United a spot in the Conference League, while Nice would be relegated to the same competition.

In a scenario where both teams qualify for the Champions League, the team with the superior domestic league standing would claim the spot. Nevertheless, Manchester United would be favored due to England’s lofty ranking in UEFA’s coefficient, even if both teams finish at an equal position domestically.