The Premier League, which manages England’s elite football championship, failed in its attempt to ban loans between clubs from related entities during the January transfer window, British media reported on Tuesday.
The Premier League, which is concerned about multi-ownership in football, wanted to prevent teams like Newcastle, 80% owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (FIP), from lending or even being loaned a player from a another club owned by the same owner. According to the press, Newcastle, whose flagship recruit of the off-season Sandro Tonali is suspended for ten months for participation in illegal betting, would intend to take on loan midfielder Ruben Neves, who currently plays for the Saudi club Al -Hilal, also under the control of the FIP.
The loan ban measure did not obtain the required majority of 14 votes out of the 20 members of the Premier League, with a score of only 13 votes to 7. The FIP bought the Saudi clubs Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal , Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad in June. Asked in November about the possibility of signing players based in the Gulf state, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he was “willing to sign anyone if they are good enough”.
In this case, Manchester City, winner of the Cup-C1-Championship treble, could lend players to other clubs belonging to the City Football Group galaxy.