Man United and Man City will be allowed to participate in the 2024/25 UEFA alongside their respective sister clubs

According to a report from The Times, both Manchester United and Manchester City will be allowed by UEFA to participate in the 2024/25 European competitions alongside their respective sister clubs.

Ratcliffe and his company INEOS completed the acquisition of Nice in 2019, and now he has also acquired a stake in Manchester United, with both teams qualifying for the Europa League next season. However, UEFA regulations restrict any individual or organization from influencing multiple clubs participating in the same competition. With Girona, a La Liga team owned by the City Football Group, also qualifying for the 2024/25 Champions League, Manchester City faces a similar issue.

The Times reports that UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) will make a ruling on Monday regarding the participation of the two Manchester clubs and other clubs in similar situations in European competitions. The CFCB is expected to approve the participation of the two Manchester clubs along with their sister clubs, but certain conditions must be met. However, these clubs will be informed that the 2024/25 season will be considered a transitional season, with less flexibility in future seasons.

The CFCB is expected to state that Girona and Nice should be operated through a "blind trust" approved by UEFA, where the investment is handled by trustees without disclosing investment details to anyone. This model was used in the dealings of AC Milan, Toulouse, and their American investors RedBird Capital this season.

The Times notes that they have seen details of a UEFA document on multi-club ownership, which explains that a "blind trust" will be a "temporary alternative" in exceptional circumstances for the 2024/25 UEFA competitions. The document further indicates that the rules regarding multi-club ownership in football may be amended in future seasons to reflect the evolving governance landscape in the sport.