The likelihood of Manchester United being denied participation in European competitions next year stems from the recent acquisition by 71-year-old entrepreneur Sir Jim Ratcliffe. This acquisition, confirmed by the club in December, saw Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group purchase a significant 27.7% share in the club, with plans to increase this to around 30% after additional investments totaling Β£1 billion.
Complicating matters further is the ownership of Nice, a French football team currently sitting in fifth place in Ligue 1, by the INEOS firm. UEFA has explicitly stated that teams owned by the same organization cannot compete in the same competition, a regulation that impacts both Manchester United and Nice.
A UEFA insider, when approached, confirmed this information, emphasizing that the two teams cannot participate in the same league. While there is no prohibition against both teams competing in separate tournaments, the regulation effectively precludes them from sharing the same competitive landscape.
This situation underscores the intricacies and potential conflicts of interest that arise in modern football ownership, where multiple clubs under the same ownership umbrella can face regulatory hurdles and limitations on their participation in prestigious competitions. As such, Manchester United’s future in European competitions may indeed be in jeopardy due to these ownership arrangements.
