Manchester United’s entry into the Europa League next season hangs in the balance, despite their recent FA Cup victory over Manchester City.
Their 2-1 win at Wembley secures them a spot in the competition alongside Tottenham Hotspur. However, a potential obstacle arises from INEOS’ ownership of French club Nice.
UEFA regulations prohibit two teams owned by the same entity from competing in the same tournament. INEOS, helmed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, currently holds a 27% stake in Manchester United and plans to invest an additional £245 million, potentially surpassing UEFA’s ownership threshold. Meanwhile, INEOS fully owns Nice.
Nice’s fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 grants them automatic entry into next season’s Europa League. If INEOS fails to resolve the ownership conflict, one of their clubs could be relegated to the UEFA Conference League.
Despite Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph, Nice would retain their Europa League spot due to their higher league finish, finishing fifth compared to United’s eighth position.
