Manchester United has received assurance that they will be eligible to participate in European competitions next season, despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership of Ligue 1 club Nice
According to UEFA regulations, clubs owned by the same individuals cannot both compete in European competitions.
The rule specifies that only one of the clubs can participate, with priority given to the higher-finishing team.
Currently, Nice occupies fifth place in Ligue 1, while Manchester United sits sixth in the Premier League. Therefore, under these circumstances, Nice would be granted entry to the Europa League over Manchester United.
In such a scenario, Manchester United would consequently be relegated to the Europa Conference League.
Manchester United granted UEFA Permission
According to the Daily Mail, UEFA has assured Manchester United that they can enter the competition as long as they demonstrate that there is no overlapping control of both clubs, which could compromise the integrity of the competition.
Ratcliffe assumed control of Nice in 2018, while his ownership stake in Manchester United stands at 27.7%, indicating a relatively limited involvement with the latter.
With Ratcliffe’s brief tenure at Old Trafford, UEFA is likely to be satisfied that there isn’t a substantial relationship between the two clubs.
Despite Manchester United’s aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League, they currently trail Aston Villa by nine points, with a game in hand.
