Newcastle ‘bruised’ and ‘could ask questions’ to Premier League about Manchester United allegations

Football financial expert Stefan Borson has claimed Newcastle United and Aston Villa may interrogate the Premier League over FFP/PSR allowances.

Last week, the monetary expert claimed Manchester United were given exceptional dispensation to negate FFP/PSR pressures. This equalled around £75million for two separate situations: the Covid-19 pandemic and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Newcastle were one of several Premier League clubs threatened by the restrictions. Toon chiefs limped over the deadline on June 30 after selling Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh for a combined £68million.

Aston Villa also sold Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz to bankroll their summer business. Throw in Everton’s and Nottingham Forests’ points deductions last season and imagining how rival Premier League clubs might be frustrated becomes easier.

Borson admitted he would not be surprised if Newcastle or Villa asked questions to the Premier League about Man United’s balance sheet. He told Football Insider: “You would think that the teams that had to scramble around on June 30, the Villas and Newcastles, will take any opportunity they have to question some of the allowances given to other teams. 

“I think they will feel quite bruised by what happened at the end of the window. I think it was touch and go, certainly for Newcastle. If you watch the interview with the CEO Darren Eales, it’s clear it was touch and go and it was a stressful time for those clubs. 

“If they then discover other allowances may have been available to them, but just largely because they didn’t claim them or were rejected by the Premier League while other teams’ claims were accepted, then there are going to be questions.

“But we have limited information other than the audited accounts, which clearly are reliable sources of data. But we never have the completely full picture, so everything has to be looked at with that kind of disclaimer.”