A club owned by the company trying to buy Everton has reportedly been hit with a transfer ban over late payments to clubs.
Earlier this month, owner Farhad Moshiri signed an agreement with 777 Partners for the American investment firm to acquire his controlling stake in the club. However, the takeover remains uncompleted as bodies including the Financial Conduct Authority and the Premier League assess its viability.
777 own or have stakes in various other clubs and leagues – Genoa, Standard Liege, Hertha Berlin, Vasco de Gama and Melbourne Victory and the London Lions basketball team and British Basketball League. According to reports in Brazil, Vasco have been slapped with a FIFA transfer ban over late payments to clubs.
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National broadcast Globo reports that Lille, Nacional of Uruguay and Argentina’s Atletico Tucuman have launched legal action over fees owed for Leo Jardim, Puma Rodríguez and Manuel Capasso respectively.
Vasco reportedly owe Nacional £1.6million and Tucuman around £1.23million, with FIFA intervening after the club missed a deadline to complete payments. The transfer ban means Vasco cannot currently register new players.
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In the short-term that will not pose an issue as the Brazilian transfer window is closed, not reopening again until next summer. While the debts are expected to be paid off by then, the development will raise concerns among beleaguered Everton fans. Other Premier League clubs have already expressed worries over 777’s acquisition of the Toffees.
The concerns are said to stem from the uncertainty over the source of 777’s funding for their deal to buy Everton, worth a reported £500million. Owners are said to be concerned over the potential reputational damage to the Premier League, with the company currently involved in fighting several court cases in the US.
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Despite concerns from club owners, they ultimately won’t be able to vote against the takeover, with the Premier League in charge of the final decision. It is understood that 777 intend to use their own capital rather than borrowing from elsewhere.
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