Seven Premier League clubs, including Man City, Newcastle, and Chelsea, voted against a proposal to ban the signing of players on loan from related teams.
Last Tuesday, a meeting was held in London to decide whether a new rule would be introduced to prohibit the transfer of loaned contracts between clubs with the same ownership.
Thirteen out of 20 Premier League clubs supported the ban, while the other seven opposed the proposed change in the UK’s top football league rules. A majority of 2/3 out of the 20 votes (14 teams agreeing) was needed to pass such a law, so the proposal was abandoned.
According to The Times, Newcastle, Sheffield United, Man City, Chelsea, Everton, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest voted against the Premier League’s new proposal. Most of these clubs are associated with a multi-club ownership model, including Newcastle, owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
In addition to the seven mentioned teams, The Times also stated that there was “discontent” among the 13 clubs that voted in favor, as Sheffield United was in the opposing group. Prince Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud, the founder of the United World Group, partially owns Sheffield United. This company also holds teams like Beerschot, Al-Hilal, Chateauroux, and Kerala United.
Therefore, Newcastle may continue to pursue midfielder Ruben Neves from Al Hilal in the January transfer window as they seek to replace midfielder Sandro Tonali, who is currently serving a long-term suspension for violating betting rules.
