Sheffield United may be handed a 12-point penalty after the company that acquired the club was ordered into liquidation by the High Court on Wednesday.
COH Sports Bidco Limited (CSBL) reached an agreement to buy the Championship side for slightly more than £100m in December 2024, although approximately £35m of the purchase price remained unpaid.
United World, the club’s previous owner, filed a winding-up petition against CSBL last month.
CSBL, which is led by United co-chairmen Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, was not represented during the High Court hearing, which lasted around 10 seconds.
The former owners said they had tried “every possible avenue to settle the issue amicably” but claimed that they “had not received a response”.
A Sheffield United spokesperson said: “Sheffield United Football Club is aware of the hearing held at the High Court today.
“The issue concerns the current owners and the former owner.
“The club remains in communication with the English Football League, while its daily operations continue without disruption.”
The situation has become more complicated following the transfer of shares in the club to a newly established company in June.
Because the company placed into liquidation is separate from the football club, the EFL would not automatically impose a sanction for an insolvency event.
The EFL said it would assess the consequences of CSBL’s liquidation, “including whether any additional steps are necessary”.
“The EFL is also continuing to review other regulatory issues arising from changes to the club’s ownership arrangements and developments across the wider group,” a spokesperson said.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) said it was “carefully reviewing the court’s ruling concerning COH Sport” and was “engaging with both the club and the EFL”.
A spokesperson added: “Under its Owners, Directors and Senior Executives regime, the IFR may evaluate an existing owner’s honesty, integrity and financial strength if there are sufficient reasons for concern.”
The key question is whether Sheffield United will ultimately be docked points.
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