In an effort to comply with UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, INEOS, owned by Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, has transferred its ownership of the Swiss soccer team Lausanne-Sport into a blind trust. This strategic move aims to prevent any conflicts of interest if Lausanne qualifies for UEFA competitions next season.
The transfer involved relocating stock to a non-disclosed British company, ensuring that potential conflicts are avoided should Lausanne find itself competing in one of UEFA’s three prestigious tournaments. Currently, INEOS holds interests in three clubs: Manchester United, Lausanne, and Nice, all of which have the potential to be part of the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League competitions.
Following their dual entry into this season’s Europa League, INEOS had already placed its ownership of Nice into a blind trust. This measure was taken to ensure that no single person or entity exercises decisive control over both clubs, in line with UEFA’s integrity regulations that have been in place for 25 years. These rules were created to prevent clubs under the same ownership from facing each other, while also prohibiting them from player transfers or collaborating on commercial deals within the season.
The proliferation of multi-club ownership (MCO) networks spans hundreds of teams globally, raising UEFA’s concerns about potential on-field collusion or market manipulation. Lausanne-Sport, currently standing sixth in the Swiss league and reaching the semifinals of the Swiss Cup, remains in contention for Europa League qualification. Meanwhile, Manchester United, positioned 14th in the Premier League, aims to secure a Champions League spot by triumphing in the ongoing Europa League. Nice is performing strongly, sitting in third place in the French league, potentially setting its sights on the Champions League.
Since acquiring Lausanne in 2017 and Nice two years thereafter, INEOS solidified its foothold in football by acquiring a 25% stake in Manchester United last year. To further eliminate any risk of conflict, Lausanne’s president and CEO, Leen Heemskerk, who has been a long-serving INEOS executive, has resigned from his position.
