UEFA has permitted Manchester United to participate in the Europa League if they qualify, though Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the owner of OGC Nice, another European club eligible to participate in the tournament.
This decision goes against UEFA’s new regulations, which prohibit teams owned by the same individuals from entering the same competitions.
Hence, Erik ten Hag’s United were not expected to compete in the Europa League next season due to their new majority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also owning Ligue 1 side Nice.
However, UEFA has made an exception in this case, citing the unique circumstances of United’s ownership situation.
The organization has determined that allowing United to compete in the Europa League would not compromise the integrity of the competition.
Currently, the Red Devils are in sixth place in the Premier League table and would qualify for the Europa League if they finish in that position, and OGC Nice are also in contention for a spot in the competition.
If both clubs were to finish in positions that qualify them for the Europa League, Nice would be permitted to participate, as they rank higher in their respective league than Manchester United.
Amid this, the Daily Mail has reported that UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis was in attendance at Old Trafford for Manchester United’s recent match against West Ham on February 4.
At the end of the match, Theodoridis is said to have engaged in discussions with the English club and promised that the issue would be addressed and United would compete in the Europa League if they qualify.
It was also noted that in the event of a similar occurrence, Manchester United and Nice would need to demonstrate to the governing body that they do not have any shared management.
Given Ratcliffe’s recent acquisition of a minority stake in Old Trafford, it is unlikely that the two teams have common technical staff.
What’s next for Manchester United?
Erik ten Hag’s team will resume play after the international break on Saturday, March 30, against Brentford in a crucial Premier League match.
The Premier League match will take place at Gtech Community stadium with kick-off set at 9:pm.
Now that it looks like United will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on the European stage once again as UEFA rules will be bent, it’s yet to be seen if this will not cause any uproar.
It’s uncertain if this decision would not be met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts, as some would applaud UEFA for its flexibility and others would question the consistency of its enforcement of ownership rules.
In your view, what do you think about UEFA bending its regulations on this matter?
