Manchester United could drop down from the Europa League due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
The Premier League giants qualified for the competition by winning the FA Cup despite finishing eighth in the table.
It was the club’s first trophy since Sir Jim Ratcliffe joined as minority owner, with the INEOS founder owning a 27.7 per cent stake.
INEOS also holds the majority shareholding at Ligue 1 side Nice, who have also qualified for next season’s Europa League.
UEFA rules regarding multi-club ownership say that clubs with the same owners can both play in Europe, but not the same competition.
INEOS are in direct talks with UEFA and ‘confident’ that the scenario above can be avoided ahead of next season.
A statement said: “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.”
Ratcliffe and INEOS must convince UEFA that United and Nice can both play in the Europa League by Monday.
The matter is set to be ruled by an independent panel ahead of the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, which commence in July.
However, if a solution does not arise, then United would have to drop into the Europa Conference League.
This is due to their eighth-place Premier League finish being lower than Nice’s final standing in Ligue 1, which was fifth.
United last played in the Europa League during the 2022/23 season but were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Sevilla.
Should they drop into the Europa Conference League, they would join Chelsea as debutant in the competition.