The Swiss club has been put up for sale, with consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal appointed to oversee the process. The Athletic reports that a five-page sales document has been sent to potential investors.
INEOS bought Lausanne in 2017, when the company was headquartered in the Swiss city. The club has since experienced two relegations and two promotions, and moved into a new stadium with a capacity of 12,500.
Lausanne’s current league position has added to the pressure surrounding the investment. The club sit bottom of the Swiss top flight, according to reports published on Monday, although a sale process does not guarantee that a buyer will be found.
The decision comes as Ratcliffe’s wider sporting portfolio faces scrutiny. He also holds an interest in Manchester United and owns French club OGC Nice, which INEOS has also been trying to sell since last year.
The attempts to find a buyer for Nice have reportedly dragged on, with Ratcliffe reducing the original asking price of £210 million. The Lausanne process represents another move to simplify the group’s sporting interests, rather than a change to Manchester United’s ownership structure.
INEOS acquired Lausanne in November 2017 and later expanded its sporting reach into other football clubs and teams across different sports. The sale mandate to Alvarez & Marsal indicates that the company is now actively looking for an exit from its Swiss club investment.
The Athletic’s report comes amid turbulence at Old Trafford, where United’s leadership has been discussing Michael Carrick’s future following a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Ratcliffe is a minority owner at United, with the club’s sporting direction a subject of continuing scrutiny.
There is no indication that the proposed Lausanne sale is directly linked to any immediate change at Manchester United. Instead, it would mark a further retreat from a football portfolio that once appeared to be expanding.
The sale remains at an early stage, with potential investors being approached and no buyer publicly identified. INEOS has not publicly confirmed a completed deal, and Lausanne’s future ownership remains unresolved.