Manchester United could be prevented from competing in Europe next season due to UEFA’s rule against clubs owned by the same individual facing each other.
The 71-year-old billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, officially acquired the team, following months of speculation, after his INEOS Group invested nearly £1 billion for a 27.7% stake in the club. With an additional investment of £238 million, their ownership stake could reach 30%.
Moreover, INEOS also owns Nice, a French team currently vying for European football in Ligue 1.
UEFA has confirmed that clubs under the same ownership are prohibited from participating in the same competition, regardless of recent regulatory changes.
According to a UEFA source speaking to SunSport, Manchester United and Nice cannot compete in the same tournament but can feature in separate competitions.
In the European qualifying standings, Erik ten Hag’s squad trails Tottenham by six points and Aston Villa by nine, raising concerns for their European aspirations.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for Man United as they could still qualify for the FA Cup, granting them the opportunity to secure a European spot, even if Manchester City clinches the league title.
In such a scenario, Nice would take priority over Man United, potentially pushing them into the Conference League if they secure a Europa League berth through a fifth-place finish.
Conversely, if United were to win the FA Cup, Francesco Farioli’s side would be relegated to the Conference League.
In case both teams qualify for the Champions League, the higher-ranked team in their respective league will claim the spot, with Man United benefiting from England’s strong UEFA coefficient rankings even if they finish level domestically.