UEFA has set a deadline of Monday for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to justify the participation of both Manchester United and Nice in next season’s Europa League.
Manchester United secured their spot by clinching the FA Cup on Saturday, yet they risk being ousted due to Nice, another club under INEOS ownership, having a higher league finish.
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After acquiring a 27.7% stake in February, Ratcliffe gained considerable influence over Manchester United’s operations.
INEOS, which took over Nice in 2019, is the principal shareholder, and the French team earned their Europa League berth by ranking fifth in Ligue 1.
Conversely, United experienced their poorest Premier League season, ending in eighth place and missing out on European qualification.
Nonetheless, Erik ten Hag’s squad triumphed over Manchester City with a 2-1 victory at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, securing a Europa League entry following their 13th FA Cup win.
However, they might face exclusion from the tournament if they cannot provide UEFA with a satisfactory explanation for competing alongside Nice.
UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership prohibit any entity from exerting “decisive influence” over more than one team in the same competition.
As reported by The Telegraph, an independent panel will deliver its decision to United before the Europa League qualifiers commence in July.
Should the verdict be unfavorable for the Old Trafford team, they would be relegated to the Conference League, having finished below Nice.
This scenario would position Tottenham Hotspur as England’s lone representative in the Europa League, with United and Chelsea participating in the Conference League.
Nevertheless, INEOS has engaged in direct discussions with UEFA and remains “confident” of reaching a resolution that adheres to the latest guidelines and upholds the competition’s integrity.
The Telegraph notes that INEOS might relinquish their operational control at Nice, reducing Ratcliffe’s role to that of the main investor.
Similar situations were successfully navigated in the 2023/24 season by the owners of Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion, who adjusted their stakes in Vitoria Guimaraes and Union Saint-Gilloise, respectively.
City Football Group is also confronting a comparable challenge after Girona’s third-place finish in La Liga led to a Champions League qualification.
While Manchester City, the Premier League champions, will not be affected, Girona’s Champions League spot could be jeopardized.
