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Sir Jim Ratcliffe of the Ineos Group is reportedly going to complete the £1.25 billion deal for a 25 per cent minority stake in Manchester United in the coming days. But, once the deal goes through, the English club could face a possible ban from the UEFA Champions League next season, if their soon-to-be sister club Nice owned by the Ineos Group, finishes ahead of them in the French Ligue 1, as per the “multi-club ownership” rules of the European governing body of football.
For the 2024-25 season, the English clubs are going to receive five automatic spots in the expanded version of the UEFA Champions League, while the French clubs will get three automatic spots along with one play-off place. However, the potential of Ineos Group owning Manchester United and Nice could see both these clubs play European football next season only when one of them secures an automatic UCL spot while the other one qualifies directly to the UEFA Conference League.
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A UEFA source was quoted as saying to The Sun, “As the rules stand, it’s a clear situation. Ineos group own Nice and are set to have a significant role in running United. Unless the regulations are changed, or Ineos sell one of their stakes, they cannot both play in European competitions, unless one is in the Champions League and the other in the Conference League.”
If Manchester United and Nice finish in the automatic UEFA Champions League spots in their respective leagues, then, as per the “multi-club ownership” rules, only the team finishing higher of the two will play in the premier European club competition while the other one will miss out on the chance. Moreover, if both clubs finish in the same position, then Manchester United will gain entry into the UCL because of England’s ranking at the top of UEFA’s “Access List” currently.
