How Manchester United & PSG can owned by one investor
The potential addition of Manchester United to the Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain football club may seem like an insurmountable obstacle to the Integrity of Competition/Multi-Club Ownership rule of UEFA. The Red Bull-owned clubs of Salzburg and Leipzig offer a precedent that such a situation can be resolved.
The rules state that no entity or individual may influence or control more than one club participating in UEFA competitions. However, the definition of control is not clear-cut, which leaves the door open for interpretation. The bidder for Manchester United, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, is not affiliated with QSI or QIA, which owns PSG. UEFA's regulations define different ways control over a club might be exerted, and it ultimately comes down to whether a bidder is able to exercise a decisive influence over the decision-making of a club.
In 2017, Red Bull's Salzburg and Leipzig were both permitted to enter the Champions League despite an investigation into their connection to the energy-drink company. Salzburg restructured its board, ended the loan arrangement, and relegated Red Bull to the status of a sponsor, which allowed both clubs to participate in the Champions League. Manchester United and PSG may be able to follow the precedent set by the Salzburg-Leipzig case and pursue the Champions League Grail simultaneously.