Leading English clubs may face exclusion from competing in the Champions League in the upcoming season.

The official announcement of the team’s acquisition by 71-year-old billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe came in December through a club statement, ending months of speculation.

 

Ratcliffe, along with his INEOS Group, invested nearly £1 billion to secure a 27.7% stake in the team, with the potential for that percentage to increase to nearly 30% with an additional £238 million investment.

 

It’s worth noting that Nice, a French football club currently in fifth place in Ligue 1 and set for European football, is also owned by the INEOS company.

 

Given these ownership connections, UEFA has formally recognized that teams owned by the same group are not allowed to participate in the same competition.

 

A UEFA insider, when approached for comment, confirmed this rule to SunSport, explaining that while both Manchester United and Nice could potentially compete in different competitions, they cannot be in the same one due to the regulation changes.

 

As things stand, Manchester United, managed by Erik ten Hag, are trailing behind Tottenham by six points and Aston Villa by nine points in the European qualification race.

 

However, there’s still hope for Manchester United, particularly in the FA Cup, which could offer a pathway to European tournaments.

 

If Manchester City secures the league title, their opponents would earn an additional league spot, potentially providing a European qualification avenue for Manchester United.

 

But complications arise due to the shared ownership with Nice. If both Manchester United and Nice secure Europa League positions through their domestic league standings, priority would be given to Nice.

 

As a result, Manchester United would be relegated to the Conference League, assuming they secure a Europa League berth via a fifth-place finish.

 

However, if Manchester United were to win the FA Cup, they would secure a spot in the Conference League, while Nice would be relegated to the same competition.

 

In the scenario where both teams qualify for the Champions League, the team with the better domestic league standing would be awarded the spot.

 

Nevertheless, Manchester United would still be given precedence due to England’s high ranking in UEFA’s coefficient, even if both teams finish at the same position domestically.