Sir Jim Ratcliffe given Manchester United takeover boost with UEFA decision

UEFA have allowed six clubs under joint ownership to compete in Europe next season, in what could be a boost to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United bid.

Ratcliffe's INEOS company are one of two bidders looking to take control at United, but the Manchester-born businessman already owns Ligue 1 outfit Nice.

The multi-club ownership model is becoming increasingly popular and there has been little appetite from governing bodies to push back on it, with the decision of UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) to allow the six teams affected entry into competitions for 2023/24 another indication that it is likely to become more common.

Ratcliffe's bid for United is under consideration, alongside a Qatari offer led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani. The Glazers are yet to decide which offer they prefer.

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But if Ratcliffe's offer does win out then he should be able to retain control of United and Nice if they both qualify for Europe in the same season, with Nice playing in continental competition last term before a disappointing ninth-place finish in 2022/23.

The First Chamber of UEFA's CFCB had opened proceedings against Aston Villa and Vitoria, Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise and AC Milan and Toulouse, due to a potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule.

But the governing body accepted the admission of the clubs that they were now compliant with the rules, but they did impose restrictions on the clubs for this season.

They include that the clubs won't be able to transfer or loan players to each other until September 2024, the clubs won't enter into any kind of cooperation, joint technical or commercial agreements and the clubs won't