Manchester United could be banned from playing in Europe next season following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's purchase of a minority stake in the club, according to reports.
Ratcliffe also owns French side OGC Nice, who currently sit fifth in Ligue 1, and UEFA's rules on multi-club ownership mean they would not be allowed to compete in the same competition.
UEFA have changed their rules slightly, allowing clubs under common ownership to compete in different European competitions as of next season, but the ban on those teams playing in the same tournament remains.
"It is correct that Manchester United and Nice cannot play in the same competition," a UEFA insider is quoted as telling the Sun. "They could play in different competitions, as there is no 'feeding' between competitions any more."
If both United and Nice do end up qualifying for the same competition then UEFA rules state that the club which "ranked highest in the domestic championship" will take precedence.
However, Ratcliffe insisted back in February that the rules will not impact United's ability to play in Europe. "There are no circumstances upon which an ownership of Nice would prevent Manchester United from playing in the Champions League - I'll be crystal clear on that," he said.
"Because we would have to find a solution. The rules are changing, and the rules are shades of grey, not black and white. We have spoken to UEFA and I have to say the conversation wasn't directed at 'you have to solve this problem and we don't like it'.
"We might have to change some things but what UEFA recognises is that the multi-club model, in many circumstances, benefits the smaller club quite a lot. It says you have to change the ownership structure.
"So it's all about influence and positions on the board and that sort of thing. So, a) the rules are changing, and, b) there are shades of grey, not black and white. Manchester City will probably have the problem before we have the problem because they've obviously got Girona who are doing well in the Spanish La Liga."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ratcliffe-manchester-united-nice-uefa-32431766#google_vignette
United could be banned from Europe
posted on 25/3/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 42 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 28 minutes ago
I saw this re: City and Girona.
They’ll find a way around it, surely?
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They have to own more than 50% golf both clubs
.
Non-story
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Is that the rule? I mean that’s all a bit flimsy isn’t it and I don’t think it should be allowed. Its massively open to abuse as it is (see Troyes loaning their record signing to Girona as an example).
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Do City have Troyes as well? FFS going to have to get them to go up against the Irish rugby team who would surely beat them, with more Troyes.
posted on 25/3/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 51 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 42 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 28 minutes ago
I saw this re: City and Girona.
They’ll find a way around it, surely?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They have to own more than 50% golf both clubs
.
Non-story
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Is that the rule? I mean that’s all a bit flimsy isn’t it and I don’t think it should be allowed. Its massively open to abuse as it is (see Troyes loaning their record signing to Girona as an example).
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I didn't know about that. Pretty scandalous
posted on 25/3/24
Makes me laugh when City fans mock the bigger clubs for being a brand first football club second......they are literally a franchise club themselves. How many clubs in the City group now? 8? None of which make any money or have any real prospect of ever doing so I think we all know this is some way to get around financial rules in the long run.
I see the didn't make the top 10 list for football shirts sold in 2023 either yet they have the biggest revenue in football apparently.😂
posted on 25/3/24
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 2 hours, 59 minutes ago
Makes me laugh when City fans mock the bigger clubs for being a brand first football club second......they are literally a franchise club themselves. How many clubs in the City group now? 8? None of which make any money or have any real prospect of ever doing so I think we all know this is some way to get around financial rules in the long run.
I see the didn't make the top 10 list for football shirts sold in 2023 either yet they have the biggest revenue in football apparently.😂
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Quite a few mistakes here SE. The CFG side of it is entirely about making money - it’s the asset growth and investors that they’re after.
On the second point, yes we did, we were fifth. What you’d have been looking at is the top ten list of shirts sold in terms of revenue not volume. That’s revenue for the manufacturers rather than the flubs to.
On the revenue point though, you don’t really think it’s linked to shirt sales do you? What do you think gets more exposure, shirts or tv…?
posted on 25/3/24
I would agree with your first point though, can’t mock anyone else for being a brand nowadays.
posted on 26/3/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 42 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 28 minutes ago
I saw this re: City and Girona.
They’ll find a way around it, surely?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They have to own more than 50% golf both clubs
.
Non-story
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Is that the rule? I mean that’s all a bit flimsy isn’t it and I don’t think it should be allowed. Its massively open to abuse as it is (see Troyes loaning their record signing to Girona as an example).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Funnily enough, Man City Group now own between 47%-49% of Girona.
The other major stakeholder is Pere Guardiola, surname ring a bell?
posted on 26/3/24
A Catalan businessman holding a stake in a Catalan football club.
Whatever next
posted on 26/3/24
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 28 seconds ago
A Catalan businessman holding a stake in a Catalan football club.
Whatever next
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Offshore bank accounts, back handers and cheating I imagine
posted on 26/3/24
Standard Chartered Bank?
posted on 26/3/24
Last time I checked......we were still owned by the Glazer parasites not INEOS. So why would we have any issue with this? As things stand Jim is only a minority investor.
Just clickbait garbage as usual?