Sheffield United Ownership Row Deepens as Former and Current Owners Trade Blows Over £35m Debt
Sheffield United's former and current owners have spent two days trading public accusations over a £35 million debt that could trigger a 12-point deduction for the club.
United World, the company led by former owner Prince Abdullah, issued a statement on Monday claiming that the creation of a new entity called 1919 Partners LLC was an attempt to avoid paying creditors of CSBL — the company through which the 2024 takeover was structured. United World said no offer to settle the debt has been made since a winding-up order was issued, and accused current owners Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy of trying to "take the club without paying for it" BBC Sport.
Rosen and Eltoukhy's camp hit back. Sources close to the ownership said they were "disappointed" that Prince Abdullah was "trying to hurt the club and its supporters with publicity stunts." Their statement described the 2024 deal as a transaction between "sophisticated parties" who were "well-advised" by Prince Abdullah's own financial advisors, and insisted the club is financially healthy. They also pointed out that Sheffield United incurred a points deduction under Prince Abdullah's tenure for missing payments to football creditors BBC Sport.
United World returned fire on Tuesday. "Sophisticated and well-advised parties pay the price they agreed," the statement read. The company also rejected an offer of shares in the business that was sold, saying that offering equity "instead of the money owed" was not part of the original deal "and is not payment" BBC Sport.
In a twist, Rosen and Eltoukhy invited Prince Abdullah to reinvest in the club and rejoin the ownership group. United World dismissed the gesture, reiterating that the debt remains unpaid BBC Sport.
The stakes are sporting, not just financial. Under English Football League rules, a club that suffers an insolvency event — such as a winding-up order, a legal process that forces a company to close and its assets to be distributed to creditors — receives an automatic 12-point deduction. The Athletic reported there is a "real prospect" the EFL may have to impose that penalty on Sheffield United Sky Sports; The Athletic.
The Independent Football Regulator — the new oversight body for English football — confirmed it is aware of the winding-up petition relating to COH Sports Bidco and said it is "engaging with the club and relevant organisations." The IFR is in contact with Sheffield United to gather more information. Neither the EFL nor the IFR has commented directly on the share transfer to 1919 Partners LLC BBC Sport.
A winding-up hearing for MICROBLADE (HOLDINGS), connected to the broader corporate dispute, is scheduled for 25 August 2026 at the High Court in London The Gazette.
For Sheffield United supporters, this is a familiar and unwelcome drama. The club already suffered a points deduction under Prince Abdullah's ownership for missing payments to football creditors — the category of debt the game's authorities treat as non-negotiable. Now the current and former owners are fighting in public through competing statements, with the team's league standing potentially caught in the crossfire. Neither side shows any sign of backing down, and the clock is ticking toward a court date that could settle the matter whether they like it or not.
