UEFA are putting plans in place to make sure that teams don’t end up barred from European competitions in the event of multi-club ownership, 90min understands.
The issue has returned to prominence as a result of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s impending purchase of a 25% stake in Manchester United through his firm, INEOS, which already owns high-flying Ligue 1 side OGC Nice and Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, among other sporting ventures.
Given that Nice are one point behind Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain and on course to qualify for the Champions League, concern has been raised over existing regulations that could theoretically scupper INEOS with Manchester United also gunning for European qualification.
UEFA’s Champions League regulations state that no club in any UEFA competition may: “hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition or have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition.”
UEFA previously investigated the links between RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg in 2017 when both clubs were due to compete in the Champions League. It was noted the “unusually high” level of transfer activity between them and similarities in “visual identity”. Ultimately, however, European football’s governing body ruled both clubs were sufficiently independent and they even went on to face each other in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage.
90min understands that INEOS do not intend to give up Nice or Lausanne and are not concerned about a potential conflict with UEFA when the stake in Manchester United is official. Their plan is also not to go fully into multi-club ownership model seen elsewhere. INEOS have already been in contact with UEFA officials and have had assurances there won’t be any major issues moving forward.
UEFA are aware that, without adapting regulations to stop clubs being punished, this could be something that continues to crop up as ownership groups become more common. City Football Group own or hold varying stakes in 13 clubs globally – including Manchester City, and five in Europe alone. One of those is Girona, who currently lead La Liga.
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