Why Man United could be barred from playing in Europe next season
Manchester United faces a potential exclusion from European competitions in the upcoming season due to UEFA’s strict enforcement of its rule prohibiting clubs owned by the same individual from participating against each other. This situation arises from the recent acquisition of Manchester United by the 71-year-old billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose ownership was officially confirmed through a club statement in December. This announcement marked the culmination of months of speculation surrounding the purchase.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, along with his INEOS Group, invested nearly £1 billion to acquire a 27.7% stake in Manchester United. This substantial investment is poised to increase further, with an additional injection of £238 million, bringing the ownership percentage closer to 30%. Notably, the INEOS Group also owns Nice, a French football club currently positioned fifth in Ligue 1 and destined for European football competitions.
The potential conflict arises from UEFA’s regulation, which prohibits clubs owned by the same entity from competing in the same tournament. Despite revisions to its rules, UEFA has affirmed that this prohibition still stands. In the context of European qualification, Manchester United, managed by Erik ten Hag, trails behind Tottenham by six points and Aston Villa by nine points.
However, there remains a glimmer of hope for Manchester United. The FA Cup presents an alternative avenue for European competition participation. In the event that Manchester City secures the Premier League title, their opponents would receive an additional league spot for European qualification. Ordinarily, this would not pose an issue, but Nice’s precedence over Manchester United could potentially complicate matters.
Should Manchester United attain a Europa League position by finishing fifth in the Premier League standings, they may find themselves relegated to the Conference League due to the ownership conflict with Nice. Conversely, if Manchester United clinches the FA Cup this season, Francesco Farioli’s Nice would face demotion to the Conference League.
In the scenario where both Manchester United and Nice qualify for the Champions League through their respective leagues, preference would still be given to Manchester United. This preference stems from England’s high ranking in UEFA’s coefficient system, granting the English club an edge in European competitions.