Manchester United will reportedly be allowed to play in the Europa League next season despite UEFA's strict rules on multi-club ownership. Both Manchester United and Nice, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company Ineos, have qualified for the competition.
UEFA's rules state that clubs under the same ownership cannot compete in the same tournament. Usually, only the higher-placed team can participate. Nice finished 5th in Ligue 1, while United finished 8th in the Premier League but secured a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup.
According to The Times, Manchester United has received conditional approval from UEFA to compete in the Europa League. Nice must be run through a ‘blind trust’ approved by UEFA, similar to the arrangement for AC Milan and Toulouse, both owned by Red Bird Capital.
This setup is considered a one-time exception, with UEFA planning stricter enforcement in the future. This decision allows both Manchester City and Girona, owned by the City Football Group, to play in the Champions League next season.
