Ineos, the company owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is confident in finding a solution that will allow both Manchester United and Nice to compete in next season’s Europa League.
Ineos holds a 27.7% stake in Manchester United and oversees the club’s football operations whilst having completed a takeover of French club Nice in 2019. However, UEFA rules restrict the influence any organization can have over more than one club in the same competition.
An independent panel will make a ruling on the matter before the start of the competition in mid-July, when the qualifying rounds begin.
Previously, UEFA regulations required Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise to alter its ownership structure to compete in the Europa League alongside Brighton, as Tony Bloom was a key figure for both clubs. Similarly, Aston Villa and Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes faced the same scenario in the Europa Conference League.
This summer, Manchester City and Spanish side Girona, both part of the City Football Group, will also need to address this issue as they have qualified for the Champions League.
Without a resolution, Manchester United would have to drop into the Conference League, as they finished eight in the Premier League last season compared to Nice’s fifth-place finish in Ligue 1. However, Ineos remains optimistic.
“We are aware of the position of both clubs and are in direct dialogue with UEFA,” Ineos stated. “We are confident we have a route forward for next season in Europe.”