Sheffield United could incur a 12-point deduction after the company used to buy the club was placed into liquidation by the High Court on Wednesday. COH Sports Bidco Limited (CSBL) agreed to purchase the Championship club for just over £100m in December 2024 but about £35m was still owed on the deal. A winding-up petition was filed last month against CSBL by United World - the club's former owners.
CSBL - headed by United co-chairmen Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy - had no representation at the High Court hearing, which lasted about 10 seconds. A statement issued by the former owners said they had made "every effort to resolve this matter amicably" but had "received no response". A complex situation is clouded by the movement of shares in the club into a new company in June.
As a separate company - not the football club - has been wound up, there is no automatic punishment from the EFL for an insolvency event. The EFL said it would consider the implications of CSBL's liquidation "including whether any further action is required". "In addition, the EFL continues to consider other regulatory matters following changes to the club's ownership structure and developments within the wider group," a spokesman added.
So will the club really face a points penalty? Saudi Arabian Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud bought 50% of Sheffield United in 2013, before acquiring the rest of the club in 2019. His time in charge was not without controversy, and he only secured the second 50% of the club following a long High Court battle.
When United World - the company through which Prince Abdullah owned the club - sold to CSBL, the story did not end. The Blades were deducted two points during the 2024-25 season because of missed transfer payments under Prince Abdullah during 2022-23. CSBL made an initial payment upon close of sale, but the first instalment - due last year - was late and paid only after a statutory demand, and sent on the deadline.
This High Court date came down to another £35m payment - a debt the new owners have not denied is outstanding. Here is where matters become complicated for the EFL and its regulations. In June, the shares in the club were transferred from CSBL into a new US-based company - 1919 Partners LLC - which became the "parent company of Sheffield United", external.
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