Newcastle United are keeping a vigilant watch on Manchester United’s ongoing situation as both clubs aim to secure European competition spots for the upcoming season. Manchester United’s season has been turbulent, yet they have managed to secure a place in the Europa League final. This achievement, however, has introduced new complexities, particularly concerning their ownership structure and its implications for European participation.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “No, 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. It says you have to change the ownership structure, you know. So it’s all about influence and positions on the board and that sort of thing. 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.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe continued: “We have spoken to UEFA and I have to say the conversation wasn’t directed at, ‘you have to solve this problem and you know we don’t like it’. We have an issue and we might have to change some things. But what they do recognise is that the multi-club model in many circumstances benefits the smaller club quite a lot.”
He further elaborated: “They do have a concern that if they stop the multi-club model then you take away quite a lot from the smaller club. Because the smaller club benefits a lot from the bigger club. So that’s a good thing. But what they’re worried about is if there’s ever an accusation that somebody influences the result of a game – lack of integrity. That’s the most concerning thing.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe concluded: “I think my inclination is positive towards multi-clubs, not negative towards multi-clubs. We haven’t spent enough time understanding all the details of it yet. Also, the UEFA thing is changing so you have to do it in the light of where you think UEFA is going to finish up, what the handicaps are. There are obviously handicaps involved.”
Manchester United’s potential conflict arises from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership stakes in both Manchester United and Ligue 1 side Nice. This dual ownership could have restricted both clubs from participating in European competitions simultaneously. However, Ratcliffe is contemplating selling his stake in Nice, which could resolve the issue if Manchester United wins the Europa League and Nice qualifies for the Champions League.
Newcastle United’s owners, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), are observing these developments closely. PIF has expressed interest in a multi-club ownership model, similar to Ratcliffe’s approach. While this model hasn’t expanded in Europe, it is operational in Saudi Arabia, where PIF holds stakes in several clubs. The ongoing discussions between Ratcliffe and UEFA regarding the coexistence of clubs in European tournaments are of particular interest to Newcastle’s owners, who have not ruled out pursuing a similar strategy.
As Newcastle United prepares for European competition next season, having secured a spot in the Conference League through their Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool, they remain hopeful of clinching a Champions League berth via the league. The unfolding situation at Manchester United could influence Newcastle’s strategic decisions, especially in the context of multi-club ownership and European football regulations.
**Tags:** #NewcastleUnited, #ManchesterUnited, #EuropaLeague, #ChampionsLeague, #UEFA, #MultiClubOwnership, #FootballGovernance
