Premier League giants facing ban from Champions League next season. This would destroy their legacy! 😱
The purchase of the team by 71-year-old billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe was officially confirmed in December through a club statement, putting an end to months of speculation.
Ratcliffe, along with his INEOS Group, invested nearly £1 billion to acquire a 27.7% stake in the team, with the potential for that percentage to rise to nearly 30% with an additional £238 million investment.
It’s worth noting that Nice, a French football club currently ranked fifth in Ligue 1 and in contention for European football, is also owned by the INEOS company.
Given this ownership connection, UEFA has acknowledged that teams owned by the same group are not allowed to compete in the same competition.
A source within UEFA confirmed this rule, explaining that while both Manchester United and Nice could potentially participate in different competitions, they cannot compete in the same one due to the new regulations.
As of now, Manchester United, led by Erik ten Hag, are lagging behind Tottenham by six points and Aston Villa by nine points in the race for European qualification.
However, there’s still hope for Manchester United, particularly in the FA Cup, which could provide a pathway to European tournaments.
If Manchester City secures the league title, an additional league spot would be awarded, potentially offering a route to European qualification for Manchester United.
But complications arise due to the shared ownership with Nice. If both Manchester United and Nice secure Europa League positions through their domestic leagues, precedence would be given to Nice.
Thus, Manchester United would be relegated to the Conference League, assuming they secure a Europa League berth by finishing fifth.
Alternatively, if Manchester United were to win the FA Cup, they would secure a spot in the Conference League, while Nice would drop to the same competition.
In the scenario where both teams qualify for the Champions League, the team with the higher domestic league standing would be given the spot.
Nevertheless, Manchester United would still be prioritized due to England’s high ranking in UEFA’s coefficient, even if both teams finish at the same position domestically.
