After the news that Qatar investors are interested in buying Manchester United, attention immediately focused on their links with Paris Saint Germain and the Champions League.
The Qatari bid for United is being headed by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, an investment banker who has so far made two official bids for the Old Trafford club.
Complications over a potential takeover have been raised due to Sheikh Jassim’s relationship with the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA), who owns PSG.
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Sheikh Jassim’s father, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, nicknamed ‘HBJ’ was the former chair of the QIA.
But Sheikh Jassim himself has ensured that he is independent from the QIA, and therefore has no relation with PSG.
The thing concerning United is the fact that UEFA currently doesn’t allow two clubs owned by the same person/group to play in the Champions League.
UEFA’s regulations say no “individual or entity” can have a “decisive influence” over the activities of more than one club in its tournaments.
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This means that there could be a potential problem facing PSG and United if Sheikh Jassim manages to purchase the club.
However, according to The New York Times, UEFA have in fact allowed two clubs with the same owner to partake in the Champions League.
In 2017, RB Leipzig surprised everyone by finishing second in the Bundesliga, meaning they qualified for Europe’s elite competition.
Whilst Red Bull Salzburg again won the Austrian top flight and also secured a place in the Champions League.
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The links between the two clubs had put Leipzig’s participation in doubt.
Energy drink giants Red Bull are a majority stakeholder in Leipzig whilst they have been long-term sponsors of Salzburg. Both teams shared the same executives and their respective badges are dominated by the Red Bull logo.
On submission of their applications to partake in the Champions League, both clubs made changes to their structures to adhere to UEFA rules.
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Red Bull owns Leipzig, but they are only titled as an official sponsor of Salzburg.
After an investigation, UEFA found that there was no reason to believe that its regulations on the integrity of the competition would be breached even if both sides were in the Champions League.
Both Leipzig and Salzburg are now regular participants in Europe’s top competition.
Topics: Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Football, Champions League, UEFA, Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig
Marcus Chan