Sports

Potential Ban Looms Over Manchester United’s Europa League Participation

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 28th, 2024.

Potential Ban Looms Over Manchester United’s Europa League Participation

Despite clinching victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, Manchester United’s prospects in the upcoming Europa League season hang in the balance.

Following their triumph at Wembley, Erik ten Hag’s squad secured a spot in the competition alongside Tottenham Hotspur. However, their eligibility is under scrutiny due to INEOS’ ownership of French club Nice.

UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership present a hurdle, barring teams owned by the same entity from competing in the same tournament. INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, holds a 27% stake in Manchester United, with plans to increase it by £245m, potentially surpassing the 30% ownership threshold set by UEFA. Meanwhile, INEOS is the sole proprietor of Ligue 1 outfit Nice.

Nice’s fifth-place finish in the French league guarantees them a spot in the next Europa League campaign. If INEOS fails to address the ownership conflict, one of their clubs could face relegation to the UEFA Conference League.

In this scenario, Nice would retain their Europa League berth due to their superior league standing, leaving Manchester United vulnerable to exclusion from the tournament.