Sheffield United co-chair Steven Rosen is facing potential disqualification as a director by the English Football League following a significant legal development in London.
The high court in London issued a winding-up order against COH Sports Bidco Limited, the company through which Rosen purchased Sheffield United two years ago.
The liquidation stems from a dispute between the club’s current owners and their predecessor, Prince Abdullah’s United World, over £35m in unpaid fees.
United World claims it is owed the £35m by Rosen and his business partner Helmy Eltoukhy, arising from the £110m sale of the Championship club in December 2024.
Abdullah filed the winding-up petition last month after Rosen and Eltoukhy transferred club ownership to a new parent company, 1919 Partners LLC.
Abdullah alleged the transfer was part of an attempt to avoid paying the outstanding debt owed to United World following the sale.
1919 Partners concede the £35m is outstanding to United World but insist the debt had no bearing on the decision to restructure ownership.
Under EFL regulations, any club official subject to two insolvency events is prevented from acting as a controlling owner or director of a club.
In 2023, Rosen served as a director of US medical manufacturer Invacare when it filed for bankruptcy, meaning this latest insolvency event could force him to stand down and reduce his shareholding in United.
The EFL is also likely to launch a formal investigation into allegations that the club’s owners deliberately sought to avoid paying fees owed from their purchase of Sheffield United, which could result in a points deduction if proven.
EFL sources with knowledge of its rule book confirmed that an insolvency event overseas would count as a disqualification event under league regulations.
“The EFL notes the high court’s decision to issue a winding-up order on COH Sports Bidco Limited,” an EFL spokesperson said, adding that the league would consider implications in line with its regulations.
Sheffield United responded to the hearing with a brief statement: “Sheffield United Football Club is aware of today’s hearing at the high court. This is a matter between the current owners and former owner.”
United World issued a pointed statement claiming the club’s owners refused repeated attempts to reach a mediated settlement before the hearing took place.
“United World made every effort to resolve this matter amicably and tried until the morning of the hearing to give the owners a final opportunity to find a solution and spare Sheffield United the consequences of their conduct,” the statement read.
United World added that no response was received to any of their approaches, placing responsibility for the fallout squarely at the feet of the current ownership group.
“It appears that Helmy Eltoukhy and Steven Rosen are simply not concerned about what this means for the club. What happens to Sheffield United now is the result of their choices,” United World’s statement concluded.