Man Utd receive UEFA update amid European ban fears due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover

Manchester United will be allowed to take part in European competition going forward, despite part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’ s involvement in French club OGC Nice.

There had been fears that Ratcliffe’s stake in both clubs could prove an obstacle to United’s participation in the Champions League or Europa League at the same time as the Ligue 1 outfit, even as laws on competing in different UEFA competitions have been relaxed. Ratcliffe’s investment in United was announced in December 2023, with an official announcement of the completed deal following in February.

Nice currently sit in fifth place in Ligue 1, but just four points adrift of Brest in second. They could yet end up in the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League for the 2024-25 season, as is the case for United.

Ratcliffe had previously been adamant that there was no risk of his Nice ownership preventing United from playing Champions League football. Now, it appears he was right to be so bullish.

According to The Mail, UEFA have indicated United would have until June 3 to prove they and Nice don’t share “joint management of administrative functions”. Previously, clubs with shared ownership elements have been free to compete in the same competition, including in the 2023-24 season.

” There are no circumstances upon which an ownership of Nice would prevent Manchester United from playing in theChampions League- I’ll be crystal clear on that. Because we would have to find a solution,” Ratcliffe said in February.

“The rules are changing, and the rules are shades of grey, not black and white. We have spoken to UEFA and I have to say the conversation wasn’t directed at ‘you have to solve this problem and we don’t like it’.”

United are said to have felt reassured about their European prospects after Brighton and Union SG both competed in this season’s Europa League despite Tony Bloom holding a stake in both clubs. Additionally, Aston Villa owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris hold a stake in Portuguese side Vitoria, who joined Villa in taking part in the 2023-24 Europa Conference League.

Ratcliffe also made reference to City Football Group’s multi-club ownership. Spanish outfit Girona, part of the group which also contains Manchester City, are on track for Champions League qualification at the time of writing,

“We might have to change some things but what UEFA recognises is that the multi-club model, in many circumstances, benefits the smaller club quite a lot,” Ratcliffe added. “It says you have to change the ownership structure.

“So it’s all about influence and positions on the board and that sort of thing. So, a) the rules are changing, and, b) there are shades of grey, not black and white. Manchester City will probably have the problem before we have the problem because they’ve obviously got Girona who are doing well in the Spanish La Liga.”