‘Chelsea are very concerned’ about ‘big’ new rule breach – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Chelsea are “very concerned” about being punished for potentially inflating a deal to sell their women’s team.
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 – claimed the Blues will “have trouble” passing the deal through the Premier League after a recent judgement on associated party transaction (APT) rules.
As per The Times (17 July), the Premier League have probed a deal which saw ownership of Chelsea’s female side transferred to BlueCo.
They have previously sold club hotels and part of their Cobham training ground in intra-company deals to avoid being hit by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) punishments.
Chelsea acted as a witness for Man City in their recent legal fight against the Premier League over APT rules, which the English champions said were unlawful.
The full outcome of that case is yet to become clear, but Wyness claimed it will give Chelsea a “big problem”.
‘Chelsea are very concerned, and they should be’, says Wyness
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “The sale of the women’s team is a big area where Chelsea may have a problem with these APT rules.
“It’s a very complex legal situation in terms of when the decision will be made on the sale.
“It’s difficult to go into it concisely, but it will give Chelsea a big problem.
“It’s one area they will have trouble getting past the Premier League.
“We’re yet to see the end of the APT ruling, the judges and commission have got to go back and clarify some of the points.
“It’s a legal minefield at the moment.
“Once again the Premier League have got themselves in a big mess. Chelsea are very concerned, and they should be.”
In other news, Chelsea’s stance on selling Christopher Nkunku revealed.
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