Manchester United “cozy up to UEFA” as Sir Jim Ratcliffe expresses concern about Champions League ban
United’s new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe also holds a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Nice, which presents a potential issue as UEFA tightens its rules. The European governing body’s regulations prohibit individuals from exerting “control or influence” over two clubs in the same UEFA competition. Earlier this year, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stated that they will need to revisit their strategy to address this issue.
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis was a guest at Old Trafford as United beat West Ham 3-0, while INEOS representatives reportedly held talks with UEFA in Switzerland, according to the Daily Mail. As per UEFA rules, Nice and Manchester United may not be able to compete in Europe next season unless they qualify for different UEFA competitions. United, currently sixth in the Premier League, are confident that the issue will be resolved, citing precedents with Aston Villa and Brighton being allowed to play in Europe despite being part of multi-club ownership groups.
Manchester City is also affected, as their owners, the Abu Dhabi-backed City Football Group, hold a 47 per cent stake in La Liga outfit Girona. If Girona and Manchester City finish where they are currently in their domestic leagues, both would have qualified for the Champions League, prompting UEFA to potentially intervene. Ceferin expressed concerns about the “biggest problem” with multi-club ownership being the perception of unfair competition in football.
He highlighted the challenges of clubs under the same ownership potentially facing accusations of fixed matches and losing credibility, emphasizing the need for strict regulations to ensure fair competition.
