Sheffield United ownership dispute puts EFL sanctions in play

Sheffield United face further regulatory uncertainty after the High Court ordered COH Sports Bidco Limited to be wound up, escalating a £35m dispute connected to the Championship club’s 2024 takeover and prompting the EFL to assess whether action is required.COH Sports Bidco was the vehicle used by an ownership group led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy to acquire Sheffield United from Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s United World. The club subsequently moved under a new parent company, 1919 Partners LLC, in June.A Sheffield United spokesperson said: “The football club is in contact with the EFL and the day-to-day operations at Sheffield United are unaffected.”The winding-up petition was brought by United World, which says it is owed £35m relating to the sale. Sheffield United’s current ownership acknowledges the sum remains outstanding but has previously rejected claims that the restructuring was designed to avoid paying the debt.The EFL has said it will consider the implications of the High Court decision under its regulations and is separately examining regulatory issues arising from changes to Sheffield United’s ownership structure and developments across the wider group.That process creates a potentially significant sporting and financial risk for the club. EFL insolvency rules provide scope for a 12-point deduction where an insolvency event involving a group undertaking is considered sufficiently connected to a member club, although any sanction in Sheffield United’s case has not been determined.United World has argued there is a “real prospect” of a 12-point penalty. The EFL has made no such determination and will need to establish how the liquidation of COH Sports Bidco relates to Sheffield United following the transfer of the club into the 1919 Partners structure.The dispute also raises questions around the league’s ownership rules. Rosen could face scrutiny under the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test because of insolvency events associated with companies where he has held directorships, potentially adding another regulatory issue for the ownership group.COH Sports completed the takeover of Sheffield United in December 2024, with reports valuing the transaction at about £100m. The subsequent restructuring placed Delaware-based 1919 Partners at the centre of the club’s ownership structure.The owners have previously said the change was intended to provide a more flexible structure for additional capital and future investment, including alongside lender MSD Capital.The immediate commercial issue is now whether the High Court ruling produces consequences beyond COH Sports Bidco itself. The EFL’s assessment of the ownership structure and its relationship with the insolvent company will determine whether Sheffield United face sporting sanctions or further governance requirements.