UEFA are under pressure to change the multi-club ownership rules that could ban Manchester United from participating in next season’s Champions League, according to the Sun.
OGC Nice owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is closing in on acquiring 25% of the Red Devils, and both teams will not be allowed to compete in Europe’s elite competition next term even if they finish in the top four in their respective leagues due to the current rules.
Nice are in second place in Ligue 1 at the moment, a point behind Paris Saint-Germain, while Man United are currently sixth.
The French club will pip the Old Trafford club to a place in the Champions League if they finish in a higher position in Ligue 1 than the Red Devils in the Premier League, but clubs have been lobbying for changes ahead of the new format and expanded version of the competition next season.
Under their current rules, no individual or entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA competition.
No individual can also be involved in any capacity or have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA competition.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin could be forced to reform the regulations, with Man United not the only club to be affected if changes are not made to the current rules.
Current La Liga leaders Girona and Premier League leaders Manchester City both belong to the City Football Group, while there are other clubs that embrace the multi-club model.
UEFA could look to ensure that multi-club teams like Nice and Man United are prevented from meeting each other in the new initial league stage of the Champions League.
However, they could then be drawn against each other in the knock-out phase, as no other clubs could be adversely affected by the result of that tie.
