The Premier League’s financial rules seem to apply differently depending on the club. While Newcastle United face intense scrutiny for every financial move, Chelsea continue to find creative ways to sidestep Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and get away with it.
Not long ago, Newcastle sold Allan Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahli, a club backed by their majority owners, PIF (Public Investment Fund), for just £22 million, arguably below market value. In contrast, other Premier League clubs offloaded aging and average players to Saudi clubs for inflated fees, yet Newcastle played it safe, fearing Premier League backlash. Had they pushed the limits like others, the club would have been placed under the financial microscope.
Chelsea’s Self-Deals Keep Them PSR-Compliant
Meanwhile, Chelsea continue to exploit legal loopholes that allow them to avoid PSR penalties. Last year, they sold hotels on Stamford Bridge land to themselves. This year, they’ve gone even further, selling their women’s team to themselves for a massive profit, according to The Times. This clever financial maneuvering will now enable them to go on another spending spree in the transfer market.
All of this is perfectly legal under Premier League regulations, but the double standards are glaring. Newcastle are under constant financial restrictions, while Chelsea keep manipulating the system unchecked.
Should Newcastle Play Chelsea’s Game?
If this is how the game is played, maybe Newcastle should join in. Perhaps they could sell a player’s contract to a newly formed PIF-backed company, mirroring the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano deals from the past. Or better yet, maybe the car park at Benton HQ is sitting on an oil reserve, time to sell it to a mystery buyer and pocket the profits.
The Premier League’s bias is clear, and while Newcastle are forced to play by the book, Chelsea continue to bend the rules to their advantage. The question is: how long will this blatant favoritism continue?
