Arsenal could face points deduction – Keith Wyness: ‘absolute chaos’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted even Arsenal could face a points deduction if the Premier League retrospectively clamp down on shareholder loans.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted it would be “absolute chaos” if top-flight chiefs decided to punish historic breaches.
Man City and the Premier League recently locked horns in a battle over the lawfulness of APT rules, with both sides emerging with victories on key issues.
One aspect of City’s success is the new classification of interest-free loans from shareholders for other English sides.
In the new APT rules, clubs must now include commercial loan interest rates on that debt in their calculations for Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) – potentially tipping them over the limit.
Arsenal have borrowed money from their owners to the tune of £259million, with other clubs like Everton, Brighton and Liverpool also falling foul.
Arsenal and Brighton face points deduction after Premier League latest, says Wyness
Wyness insisted the “world has gone mad” if the Premier League apply the new rules retrospectively.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Clubs can turn these shareholder loans into equity quite quickly.
“But if the Premier League come down on them retrospectively, and all clubs who had these loans are charged by new commissions – then you’ll see Arsenal, Brighton and more getting points deductions.
“It would be absolute chaos.
“I just don’t think it could happen. If it does, then I’m afraid the world has gone mad.”
In other news, “huge” Ethan Nwaneri offer imminent.
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