Despite UEFA’s strict rules on multi-club ownership, Manchester United will reportedly be allowed to participate in the Europa League next season. Both United and Nice, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company Ineos, have qualified for the competition.
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According to UEFA’s updated integrity laws, clubs under the same ownership cannot compete in the same competition. Normally, the higher-placed team would be allowed to participate. Nice finished 5th in Ligue 1, while United finished 8th in the Premier League but secured a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup.
The Times reports that Manchester United has received conditional approval from UEFA to compete alongside Nice in the Europa League next season. Nice must be operated via a ‘blind trust’ approved by UEFA, a model used by AC Milan and Toulouse, both owned by Red Bird Capital.
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This arrangement is seen as a one-off, with UEFA indicating stricter enforcement in future seasons. The decision allows both Manchester City and Girona, under the City Football Group, to play in the Champions League next season.
