Manchester United could be banned from next season’s Champions League due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's partial takeover of the club.
Ratcliffe’s long-running pursuit of a stake in United is on the verge of being rubberstamped, with the Ineos billionaire set to take a 25% portion of the club. Ratcliffe's £1.3billion deal will throw up some issues due to his ownership of French side Nice, who are challenging Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title.
With France set to be awarded three automatic places and a play-off spot for next season’s Champions League, Nice have a strong chance of being involved in Europe’s top club competition. Despite their dire start to the season, United will hope to be in the mix too, with the Premier League likely to be granted five spots for the new-look 36-team tournament.
READ MORE: 15 players who Man Utd could axe as Erik ten Hag 'plans mammoth transfer clear out'
READ MORE: Man Utd to sell Raphael Varane – and Erik ten Hag already knows his two ideal replacements
Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we'll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens...along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
However, under Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules, both sides wouldn’t be able to play in the Champions League. In fact, they would only both be able to play in Europe if one qualifies directly for the Champions League and the other makes it into the Uefa Conference League, reports The Sun.
If both sides finish in the Champions League spots in their leagues, the place will go the club that finishes high with the other will miss out. On current form, that is most likely to be Nice. If the clubs finish in the same position, United would get to nod thanks to England’s place at the top of Uefa’s ‘access list’.
Do you think Man Utd will finish in the Champions League spot? Tell us in the comments section below
United could even be barred from playing in the Europa League if Nice finish fourth but lose their Champions League play-off and drop into second-tier competition. But missing out on the Champions League – either directly or because of Nice – would be the biggest blow to the Red Devils, with the competition worth a reputed £140million in TV and prize money.
A Uefa source told The Sun: “As the rules stand, it’s a clear situation. Ineos own Nice and are set to have a significant role in running United.
“Unless the regulations are changed, or Ineos sell one of their stakes, they cannot both play in European competitions, unless one is in the Champions League and the other in the Conference League.”
