Angry Newcastle United reaction as UEFA make decision impacting Man Utd & Man City

Newcastle United supporters on social media have launched a scathing attack on UEFA for allowing both Manchester teams to compete in Europe alongside their sister clubs.

Manchester United and Nice, the French club owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company Ineos, have both qualified for the Europa League. Nice finished fifth in the Ligue 1 table while the Red Devils, despite an eighth place finish, earned their place in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup.

Likewise, English champion Manchester City owned by Sheikh Mansour’s City Football Club, have ties with Spanish outfit Girona who this season secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. UEFA rules currently state, "no individual or legal entity may have 'control or decisive influence' over more than one club" competing in their European competitions.

However, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has previously admitted that the growing concept of multi-club ownership needed greater thought. In a document sent to clubs, Uefa has offered a 'temporary alternative' to any club which may be at risk of failing the current rules in 2024-25. This would allow the 'transfer or assignment in a club to an independent third party, such as a blind trust'.

Uefa believes this will allow decisions to be made by a third party, whose duty it will be to act in the best interests of the relevant clubs. The governing body says this move has been made on an 'exceptional basis'.

The news has been met with widespread criticism from sections of the Newcastle fanbase who believe that UEFA have sided with the traditional big six clubs. Whilst also pointing attention to the vote that took place before the January transfer window when PIF owned Newcastle were linked with a loan move for Ruben Neves from Saudi side Al-Hilal.

Magpie 24/7 tweeted:  “Shock. Horror! The bias for the big 6 actually stinks. Villa had to sell shares to participate in Europe. 'emergency' meetings held when there's even an inkling of thought Newcastle linked with players in the Saudi league.”

Newcastle fan Rob M expressed similar feelings. He said: “Yet the minute there is a whiff of #NUFC doing any sort of business with the Saudi's, there are emergency meetings and new rules brought in almost immediately to prevent it. There is huge bias towards the "elite" and clubs outside of that won't ever be allowed to catch up.”

Fans of Aston Villa also slammed the decision. One user posted: “One rule for them, another rule for all the others. Why did we have to reduce our stake in Vitoria?”

Another added: “Doesn't surprise me one bit tbh. Yet weren't Villa and Brighton owners were forced to sell shares unless I'm mistaken? What's the difference in this case?”

A third said: “This will just open the doors for others to do the same, resulting in multi-team ownership and sister teams helping each other out. Pathetic weakness from UEFA.”