22 November 2023 , 09:27
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Premier League chiefs suffered a major defeat on Tuesday when eight clubs blocked a move to ban player loans between "associated parties".
Such a ban would have prevented the likes of Newcastle, or any other team whose owners also control other clubs, from bringing in players at those other teams. The Magpies have been heavily linked with a move for Ruben Neves in the January transfer window.
Neves though is currently playing for Al-Hilal, who, like Newcastle, are owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. A ban would have prevented such a deal from happening, or any others involving the four other Saudi sides owned by the PIF.
But Newcastle would not have been the only side affected by such a ban. Manchester City and Chelsea both also operate multi-club models, with those three sides all voting against bringing a ban in.
They were joined by Sheffield United, who The Sun report were pressured by senior Saudi figures. Crisis club Everton, battling the Premier League over their 10-point deduction, also voted against.
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The crucial final three votes were secured from Burnley, Wolves and Nottingham Forest. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also controls Greek giants Olympiakos, while Wolves' owners Fosun also have Swiss side Grasshoppers in their portfolio. Burnley were the only side to block proposals, although Turf Moor chiefs have also reportedly been keen to purchase an associated club.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should loans between 'associated parties' be allowed? Comment below.
Newcastle will be free to loan Ruben Neves, or any other player whose club is also owned by the PIFThe votes of those eight were enough to block the ban, with fourteen votes in favour required to bring in a new rule. Title challengers Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham all voted in favour of enacting a ban.
Aston Villa joined them, while Manchester United surprisingly voted in favour of a ban, despite the impending arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Through his Ineos chemical giant, Ratcliffe already owns Nice and Swiss side Lausanne-Sport.
Though they also operate multi-club models, both Brighton and Brentford also voted the same way. West Ham added their vote, while Crystal Palace, whose chairman Steve Parish has frequently been the leader of opposition to the Big Six's plans, unsurprisingly voted in favour.
The final three votes in favour came from Fulham, Bournemouth and Luton Town. There will be another meeting of Premier League clubs before the January window, though it is though that the matter is settled for now.
Premier League chiefs have been increasingly concerned with showing they can self-regulate. That is because the government is set to enact legislation that will bring in an independent regulator of the English game.