MANCHESTER UNITED face being axed from the Europa League due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's stake in French side Nice.
Both teams have qualified for next season's competition after United beat Man City in the FA Cup final.
Nice secured their place by finishing fifth in Ligue 1.
But Uefa's ownership rules prevents clubs with the same "decisive influence" from competing together in the same competition.
Ratcliffe's group Ineos owns Nice outright after completing an £88.77million takeover in 2019.
The company now has a 27.7 per cent stake in United after striking a £1.3billion deal with the Glazers.
And Ineos now have until Monday June 3 to convince Uefa that Nice and United can both compete in next season's Europa League.
An independent panel will make a ruling on whether the satisfactory criteria has been met, says the Telegraph.
But the worst case scenario would see United exiled to the Europa Conference League, as Nice secured a higher league finish.
Ratcliffe and Ineos will be hoping that their 27.7 per cent stake allows United to compete, as the Uefa threshold for violating ownership rules is 30 per cent.
However, the British billionaire has full control of all football operations at Old Trafford.
And Uefa will be wanting to know how much "decisive influence" comes from it, having recently warned clubs “must prove that, as at June 3 2024, they comply with the rules aimed at ensuring the integrity of the competition, namely the multi-club ownership rule”.
Reports also claim Ineos plan to invest a further £245m for infrastructure works, which would take them above the 30 per cent threshold.
But Ineos are "confident" of complying with Uefa's rules though, saying: “We are aware of the position of both clubs and are in direct dialogue with Uefa.
“We are confident we have a route forward for next season in Europe.”
One option could be for Ineos to give up direct involvement at Nice, which would see day-to-day control go elsewhere.
A similar approach looks set to happen with City Football Group after both Man City and Girona qualified for the Champions League.
CFG have been told by Uefa they can sell shares in either club to a third-party, which would mean them reducing their Girona stake by more than a third.
And Ratcliffe could take a similar approach by putting Nice into a trust.
Mitbcknpz
0
baby crier 😃😃
Lohaeknpst
0
in fact I'm in impressed with all the coaches
Suwceikmu
0
I think this man should sell off nies and complete man United 50 percent
Homdinsuyz
1
75% belongs to glazzers
Veobcelnop
0
what about man city and girona
Hehdeklor
0
Why not Nice face UEL axe?
UEFA cannot ban either Man utd or Nice from the UEL this season. They just want the INEOS GROUP to give them a little pocket money. Newcastle and Psg have same ownership but they face each other in the UCL last season RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg played in the same competition (UCL) last season. so Man Utd and Nice fc case no difference
nawceiprz
1
man united has already silent noise neighbors this conversation doesn't need Arsenal ideology
Silent noisy neighbors with home and away trashing 🤣 keep consoling yourself in 8th position
noebdlnoz
2
🤣😂😂 cry belong to 8th position
man united has already silent noise neighbors this conversation doesn't need Arsenal ideology
lancdirtz
0
88.77 million for club while 1.3billion for 27.7 percent share of another the world is not fare
kbsarpong
0
sell the club to the Qatarisu say no.
rupdemopru
1
🤣😂😂 cry belong to 8th position
Continue 😭😭
nawceiprz
1
Are you still crying
🤣😂😂 cry belong to 8th position
rupdemopru
1
I didn’t know Community shield is a trophy to Man Utd fans, if Arsenal wins it it’s no trophy, if Man Utd wins it is a trophy. Delulu fans
Are you still crying
nawceiprz
1
No one mentioned that here so go sleep
Did I mention your name? Mumu
Okú7
0
I didn’t know Community shield is a trophy to Man Utd fans, if Arsenal wins it it’s no trophy, if Man Utd wins it is a trophy. Delulu fans
No one mentioned that here so go sleep
nawceiprz
2
I didn’t know Community shield is a trophy to Man Utd fans, if Arsenal wins it it’s no trophy, if Man Utd wins it is a trophy. Delulu fans
Soybpsty
0
what about Man City and Girona?
Kipcinrs
0
Gatar wanted this team but this greedy Ratliff forcing to buy shares. Now the problem follows
Ur 100% correct
Kipcinrs
2
This guy just came to cause problems. Qatar was the right solution and direct pathway to rescue the sinking titanic
Ropbceiktu
1
I have been a Manchester United fan from Ethiopia for more than twenty years. However, we have not had a bad year like today. Eric Tenhag inspired the players to lift the FA Cup at the last minute. A coach should be like that. They have learned a lot from Tenhag, who is known as Satan, who is known as an angel. They should continue to be a fan like me.
wizluvawak4u
1
Even Uefa is happy seeing united play in European football so as to make their gain, Am not both of that.
Himbcmp
0
They explained because he finish upper in the league
Modys
0
Why not Nice face UEL axe?
They explained because he finish upper in the league
fiubcimuyz
0
Buy scamacc from antalanta
wisdelnors
1
Gatar wanted this team but this greedy Ratliff forcing to buy shares. Now the problem follows
tupacimoyz
1
give back to Chelsea
Josiah_eaa
2
INEOS should never have bought a stake in the club when Qatar wanted to buy it outright from the glazers
Himbcmp
2
Why not Nice face UEL axe?