Ratcliffe interested in Chelsea, what consequences for Nice in Europe?

If Jim Ratcliffe, at the head of Nice, became the owner of Chelsea (club for which he made an offer to buy), he would then own two clubs likely to play in European competitions. Such a situation would conflict with UEFA regulations, but it wouldn’t be the first time.

Could we see next season a Champions League meeting between Nice and Chelsea? Today, provided that the Aiglons qualify for the next edition of the most prestigious of European competitions, it is possible. But Jim Ratcliffe’s interest in buying the Chelsea club could be a game-changer.

The British billionaire, boss of the company Ineos, has owned OGC Nice since 2019, but two teams owned by the same man or the same company cannot compete in the same European competition. Article 5 of the UEFA regulations concerning the Champions League aims to prevent such conflicts of interest.

“No one may be, at the same time, directly or indirectly involved in any way whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting activities of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition “, indicate the rules of the body, before adding, further: “No natural or legal person may have control of or exercise influence over more than one club participating in the UEFA club competitions.

In theory, if two clubs owned by the same owner were to qualify for European competitions, only one could ultimately be registered. The only exception provided for by the regulations, if a club obtains its direct ticket for the Champions League and the other for the Europa Conference League, since in this case there is no risk of ending up in the same table.

Leipzig-Salzburg, an advantageous liability

In reality, however, everything seems a little less strict. For five seasons, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg have both participated in the Champions League or the Europa League, although both clubs are under Red Bull’s tutelage. As early as 2017, UEFA had therefore had to make a decision and had estimated, “following a long investigation and after changes in the governance structure of the two clubs” that there was no violation of the 5.

In 2018-2019, Chelsea and its satellite club Vitesse Arnhem also participated together in the Europa League. At the time, the Dutch club officially owned by Valeri Oyf, a Russian oligarch very close to Roman Abramovich, had however failed in the preliminary rounds. But the previous season, Arnhem had already played in the competition, with four players in its ranks on loan from Chelsea, including Mason Mount, while the Blues were playing the Champions League.

So far, when two clubs owned by the same owner have had to compete in the same European competition, they have never had to meet. But it is a situation that is likely to arise one day or another. Maybe with Nice and Chelsea in the future.