Sheffield United face 12-point deduction after takeover company wound up by High Court

Sheffield United are facing a potential 12-point Championship deduction after the High Court wound up the company used to buy the club, following a dispute over £35 million in unpaid instalments.

COH Sports Bidco Ltd (CSBL) was formally placed into liquidation at the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court in London on Wednesday 19 August, in a hearing that lasted approximately 10 seconds. No lawyers appeared on behalf of the club’s new owners, Helmy Eltoukhy and Steven Rosen, who completed their £100 million purchase of the Yorkshire club from Saudi Arabian Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in December 2024.

Prince Abdullah’s company, United World, brought the winding-up petition, claiming CSBL still owes £35m in outstanding instalments from the sale. United World said it had made “every effort to resolve this matter amicably” but had “received no response.” Judge Paul Greenwood granted the compulsory order requested by United World’s representative Angus Groom, and the Official Receiver will now take control of CSBL.

The dispute was further complicated by the decision to transfer Sheffield United’s shares from CSBL to a new parent company called 1919 Partners earlier this summer. United World alleges the move was an attempt to “avoid paying CSBL’s creditors.”

The EFL confirmed it is now assessing the implications. “The EFL notes the High Court’s decision to issue a winding up order on COH Sports Bidco Limited,” the governing body said in a statement. “The League will consider the implications of that development in line with its Regulations, 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.”

United World had previously warned that EFL Regulation 2.1.16 would require Rosen to be disqualified as a controlling owner and director of Sheffield United if the petition was granted, meaning he would be unable to serve as chairman or exercise control over the club and would be required to sell a significant portion of his controlling interest.

On the prospect of a points penalty, United World stated: “Once investigations are completed, there is a real prospect that the EFL may have to impose a 12-point deduction on SUFC under EFL Regulation 12.3, in order to protect the integrity and continuity” of the competition. The EFL said it would make no further comment while matters remain ongoing.