Premier League given UNEXPECTED boost in related-party loan battle

Robin Bairner

22 Nov 2023 09:20 GMT
3 min read

Ruben Neves is at the heart of the related-party loan debate — © ProShots

Premier League clubs that voted in favour of banning teams from related-party loans have been given something of an unexpected boost from abroad.

Article continues under the video

Although 12 clubs voted in favour of block of loan transfer between clubs under the same ownership, the law failed to get the required 13 votes to pass.

This means, for example, that Newcastle could make a January move for Ruben Neves on loan from Al-Hilal to replace the suspended Sandro Tonali. Although rumoured for several weeks, it is now a move that is being denied, yet it remains a possibility after Tuesday’s vote.

It is understood that Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Wolves, Everton, Burnley, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest all voted against the proposal.

But while the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were left disappointed, these teams have been given an unexpected boost from abroad that suggests tougher legislation might not be too far away.

Tebas criticises PSG over Verratti

© ProShots - The transfer of Marco Verratti from PSG to Al-Arabi has fuelled anger in Spain

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has spoken out over deals involving state-owned clubs, picking out Marco Verratti’s transfer from Qatari-owned PSG to Qatar Stars League side Al-Arabi for €40 million in the summer.

“There are operations in Europe which are not clear. This summer, Verratti was transferred for €40 million to a club in Qatar which has 25,000 spectators. There are indications which make us think that we must save Financial Fair Play, we must avoid certain situations,” he told the Social Football Sumit.

Although an arch-enemy of PSG for years following the Ligue 1 side’s ability to plunder the best of LaLiga’s talent, most notably Neymar and Lionel Messi, it does not take much to extrapolate from Tebas’ comments that he would also be against loan deals between related clubs.

The Premier League may have failed to block such transfers, but there is growing appetite to do so in European football, which may pave the way to tougher legislation in the not-too-distant future.