Manchester United currently sits in sixth position in the Premier League standings, trailing nine points behind Aston Villa, who are in fourth place, with one game still to play. This puts them in the running for qualification to the UEFA Champions League.
However, there’s a significant complication for both Manchester United and Nice due to UEFA regulations. These rules state that clubs under the same ownership cannot compete in the same European competition in a single season.
At present, both Nice and Manchester United would qualify for the UEFA Europa League based on their current league standings.
However, recent updates to UEFA’s integrity laws specify that only one club from the same ownership group can enter a particular competition if both qualify.
According to these regulations, the club with the lower league finish would be required to drop down to the lower-tier competition.
In this case, if both Nice and Manchester United qualify for the Europa League, Manchester United, currently in sixth place, would theoretically move to the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Nonetheless, reports from the Daily Mail suggest that Manchester United has received assurances from UEFA regarding their participation in Europe’s secondary competition in such circumstances.
The club has reportedly been in discussions with UEFA for some time to address this potential scenario.
In February, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of both Nice and Manchester United, expressed confidence that his ownership of Nice would not hinder Manchester United’s European participation.
He noted the evolving nature of UEFA regulations and indicated that Manchester City, with their ownership of Girona through the City Football Group, might face similar challenges soon.
Ratcliffe emphasized that the rules regarding ownership structures are subject to change and clarified that the issue revolves around levels of influence and positions on the board.
He suggested that there are shades of gray rather than clear-cut rules, indicating a degree of flexibility in addressing ownership-related issues within UEFA’s framework.
While UEFA regulations initially posed a potential obstacle to Manchester United’s European aspirations, ongoing discussions and assurances from UEFA have provided reassurance regarding the club’s participation in European competitions despite their shared ownership with Nice.
