Man Utd could be banned from Champions League next season even if they win Europa League

For Tottenham, lifting the Europa League trophy would mark their first major silverware in 17 years, while for United, it would offer a redeeming conclusion to an otherwise disappointing campaign.

Winning the tournament guarantees a spot in next season’s Champions League, but United’s qualification isn’t entirely straightforward due to ownership complexities.

Previously, UEFA rules prevented two clubs under the same ownership from competing in separate European competitions. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe holding a stake in both Manchester United and Nice, this could have posed a challenge for United.

Despite their recent 2-0 loss to Rennes, Nice remains well-positioned to qualify for the Champions League, currently sitting fourth in Ligue 1.

However, these restrictions were revised last year to accommodate the growing number of clubs under shared ownership. UEFA now assesses such situations individually, as demonstrated by their approval of Manchester City and Girona competing this season.

United has already encountered complications due to Ratcliffe’s stake in Nice, notably when Jean-Clair Todibo’s transfer to Old Trafford was blocked. However, there are two reasons for optimism that this will not be an issue going forward.

Ratcliffe is considering selling Nice, and if that transaction is completed before a key deadline—provided United wins the Europa League and Nice secures a Champions League berth—there should be no barriers to European participation.

Furthermore, UEFA has clarified that ownership conflicts are assessed case by case, meaning a solution could be found even if Ratcliffe retains a stake in both clubs, ensuring United’s place in Europe’s premier competition.

It was stated that “no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.”

Therefore, the key requirement would be demonstrating that the two clubs operate independently, and Ratcliffe’s intention to sell his stake in Nice could strengthen their position if complications arise.

Last season, MEN Sport reported that Manchester United remained confident about their eligibility to play in European competitions alongside Nice, despite INEOS’ multi-club ownership structure.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe also assured last year that there would be no obstacles preventing both teams from competing in Europe simultaneously.

“No, there are no circumstances upon which an ownership of Nice would prevent Manchester United from playing in the Champions League. I’ll be crystal clear on that,” he said.

“It says you have to change the ownership structure, you know. So it’s all about influence and positions on the board and that sort of thing. A: the rules are changing, and B: there are shades of grey not black and white. Manchester City will probably have the problem before we have the problem because they’ve obviously got Girona.

“We have spoken to UEFA and I have to say the conversation wasn’t directed at, ‘you have to solve this problem and you know we don’t like it’. We have an issue and we might have to change some things. But what they do recognise is that the multi-club model in many circumstances benefits the smaller club quite a lot.

“They do have a concern that if they stop the multi-club model then you take away quite a lot from the smaller club. Because the smaller club benefits a lot from the bigger club. So that’s a good thing. But what they’re worried about is if there’s ever an accusation that somebody influences the result of a game – lack of integrity. That’s the most concerning thing.

“We’ve never spent time really understanding the benefits of a multi-club. But we’ve got Omar obviously, who’s been intimately involved in a really successful multi-club, which is Manchester City. So we need to spend a bit of time with Omar trying to understand it a bit better before we finish up with a view.

“I think my inclination is positive towards multi-clubs, not negative towards multi-clubs. We haven’t spent enough time understanding all the details of it yet. Also, the UEFA thing is changing so you have to do it in the light of where you think UEFA is going to finish up, what the handicaps are. There are obviously handicaps involved.”