Man United WILL be allowed to play in Europe next season even if Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Nice qualify for the Europa League, despite UEFA’s restrictions on multi-club ownership

Manchester United have received assurances from UEFA that they will be allowed to take part in the Europa League next season if Nice also qualify despite the European governing body’s restrictions on multi-club ownership. 

UEFA released an updated version of their integrity laws last weekend which stated that in the event of two clubs from the same ownership group qualifying for the same competition only one will be permitted to enter, with the club who finishes lower in their domestic league dropping into the lesser competition, which in this case would be the Europa Conference League.

United and Nice are both on course to qualify for the Europa League this season, which following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake at Old Trafford has led to concerns that one of the clubs would be banned from entering, given the British billionaire is a majority shareholder at the French club. 

Based on current league standings Nice would edge out United if UEFA’s regulations were strictly enforced, as they are fifth in Ligue 1 with Erik Ten Hag’s side sixth in the Premier League.

United have been talking to UEFA for some time about managing such a scenario however, with Mail Sport revealing last month that UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis was a guest at Old Trafford for their Premier League game against West Ham on 4 February. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is Nice’s majority owner and acquired a 25 percent stake in United last year

Nice are currently fifth in Ligue 1, level on points with fourth-placed Lille

It is understood that those negotiations have been productive, with UEFA indicating they would not exclude United from competing in the same competition as Nice as long as certain conditions are met.

In the event they both qualify United would have until 3 June to demonstrate that they do not share any joint management of administrative functions with the French club, which should not prove too onerous. 

Given Ratcliffe has only just completed his investment at United there is very little relationship between the clubs at this stage, and they do not share functions such scouting and data as is common with other multi-club operations, such as the City Football Group.