UEFA confirm whether Man City, Man United can play in Europe next season

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UEFA confirm whether Man City, Man United can play in Europe next season

By Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: 05 July 2024 4:39 PM

UEFA make major call: Man City, Man United learn European fate

UEFA have confirmed that both Manchester City and Manchester United will be able to play in European competition next season.

There had been doubt over the involvement of Man City in the 2024-25 Champions League and Man United in the 2024-25 Europa League due to the rules surrounding multi-club ownership.

Indeed, Girona, who are also owned by the City Football Group, surprisingly qualified for next season's Champions League courtesy of their third-place finish in La Liga.

Meanwhile, Nice, who are under the control of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS Group, finished fifth in Ligue 1 last term to automatically qualify for the group stage of the 2024-25 Europa League.

Man United's spot in next season's Europa League was confirmed at the end of May, with the 20-time English champions beating Man City in the FA Cup final.

Man City, Man United can play in Europe next season

Both of the English clubs have now been cleared by UEFA's Club Financial Control Body to feature in Europe next season.

Under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, two clubs under the same ownership competing in one European competition creates a potential conflict.

However, in the eyes of UEFA, sufficient changes have been made to allow all four clubs to be admitted to European competition next term.

UEFA said INEOS had proved that "no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

"More specifically, the significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs, substantially restrict the investors' influence and decision-making power over more than one club, ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule during the 2024/25 season.

"In particular, the concerned investors have transferred their shares in OGC Nice to independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber.

Man United will not be able to sign Todibo

"Such blind trust was accepted by the CFCB First Chamber on an exceptional basis for the 2024/25 UEFA competitions. The trustees will regularly exchange information with the CFCB First Chamber during the 2024/25 season."

However, Man United's pursuit of Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo this summer has officially ended, with all clubs involved agreeing not to transfer players "permanently or on loan, either directly or indirectly from July 2024 to September 2025".

The Red Devils had allegedly still been hopeful of completing a deal for Todibo this summer despite the obvious difficulties that come with signing a player from Nice.

"We are pleased with the positive decision from the First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body which will see Manchester United play in the Europa League next season. The focus for Manchester United is on the season ahead and performance on the pitch," INEOS said in a statement.

Man City will be able to sign Brazilian attacker Savio this summer, though, as he headed back to parent club Troyes last month after the expiration of his loan deal at Girona.

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