Manchester United currently occupies sixth place in the Premier League standings, trailing nine points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, with a game in hand.
This places them in contention for qualification to the UEFA Champions League.
However, a significant complication arises for both Manchester United and Nice due to UEFA regulations stipulating that clubs under the same ownership cannot participate in the same European competition in a given season.
As it stands, both Nice and Manchester United would secure berths in the UEFA Europa League based on their current league positions.
Yet, recent updates to UEFA’s integrity laws specify that only one club from the same ownership group can enter a particular competition if both qualify.
According to these regulations, the club finishing lower in their respective league standings would be compelled to drop down to the lower-tier competition.
In this scenario, if both Nice and Manchester United secure Europa League qualification, Manchester United, currently placed sixth, would theoretically descend to the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Nevertheless, reports from the Daily Mail suggest that Manchester United has received assurances from UEFA regarding their participation in Europe’s secondary competition in such circumstances.
The club has reportedly engaged in discussions with UEFA for some time to address this potential scenario.
In February, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of both Nice and Manchester United, expressed confidence that his ownership of Nice would not impede Manchester United’s European participation.
He highlighted the evolving nature of UEFA regulations and emphasized the nuances involved, indicating that Manchester City, with their ownership of Girona through the City Football Group, might encounter similar challenges sooner.
Ratcliffe underscored that the rules concerning ownership structures are subject to change and clarified that the issue revolves around levels of influence and positions on the board.
He asserted that there are shades of gray rather than clear-cut black-and-white rules, suggesting a degree of flexibility in addressing ownership-related issues within UEFA’s framework.
while UEFA regulations initially posed a potential obstacle to Manchester United’s European aspirations, ongoing discussions and assurances from UEFA have provided reassurance regarding the club’s participation in European competitions despite their shared ownership with Nice.
