SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S ownership of Nice could see Manchester United BANNED from Europe next season.
Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn deal for a 25 per cent stake in the Old Trafford club is due to be officially confirmed within days.
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Manchester United and Marcus Rashford could be kicked out of next season’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
But the British billionaire and his Ineos group already own Nice, who are second in Ligue 1 – just a point behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Ahead of next season’s expanded Champions League, French first division teams will be awarded three automatic spots and one play-off spot, with Prem teams given five direct spots.
But under Uefa’s “multi-club ownership” rules, the only way United and Nice can play in Europe next campaign is if one secures an automatic place in the Champions League and the other qualifies directly for the Conference League.
If both finish in the Champions League places in their respective divisions, the team that finishes higher than those two gets a place while the other is banned from Europe.
And if both finish in the same position, England’s ranking at the top of Uefa’s “access list” means that Erik ten Hag’s sixth-placed Reds will receive support for Europe’s premier competition – worth up to £140m in TV and prize money – and Nice will only play domestic football .
However, if Nice finish fourth – a place in the Ligue 1 play-offs for the Champions League – the potential for them to lose the play-offs and be relegated to the Europa League means United would also be banned from playing in Uefa’s secondary competition, even if they qualify directly for finishing sixth or by winning the FA Cup.
In that case, United’s only chance of playing in Europe would be to win the Carabao Cup or finish seventh and hope the Carabao winners qualify for Europe, giving the Reds the prize of a place in the Conference League.
A source from UEFA confirmed: “As the rules stand, the situation is clear. Ineos owns Nice and should have a significant role in running United.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership of Nice could cause complications Credit: Getty – Contributor
“Unless the regulations change or Ineos sells one of its shares, they cannot both play in European competitions, unless one is in the Champions League and the other in the Conference League.”
Uefa rules could also affect United’s neighbors Manchester City, although more likely their Spanish sister club Girona, who are part of the City Football Group and surprise in La Liga ahead of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
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Nice could prevent United from playing in the Champions League if they finish higher in Ligue 1. Credit: AFP
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