How likely Sheffield United are of getting a points deduction | OneFootball

Sheffield United's owners are in a legal dispute with former owner Prince Abdullah

Sheffield United are aiming to get back into the mix for promotion to the Premier League next season.

The Blades endured a tricky 2025/26, which was the first full season under the new owners COH Sports, who have recently rebranded to 1919 Partners LLC.

Chris Wilder had guided the Yorkshire outfit to the 2025 play-off final, where the team lost 2-1 to Sunderland, which led to the veteran coach departing the club.

However, he was brought back to Bramall Lane after just five league games following Ruben Selles’ disastrous start to the term.

Wilder was only able to guide Sheffield United to 13th in the Championship table, 13 points adrift of the top six.

But with the play-offs now expanding to include two more teams, the club will be hopeful of getting back into the fight for a place in the Premier League in 2027.

How likely are Sheffield United to be deducted points

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It has been reported by The Star that the current legal dispute between COH Sports and Prince Abdullah is some way off of leading to a points deduction for Sheffield United.

The club’s current owners were issued a winding-up petition by the former owner due to a disagreement over payments related to the December 2024 purchase of the Championship side.

It’s believed that Prince Abdullah is seeking up to £35 million from COH Sports, who transferred their shares in the club to 1919 Partners.

It’s understood that the EFL have been made aware of the situation, and the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) is also keeping an eye on it as it develops, but they are not yet ready to act in any way.

However, if a winding up order is eventually issued, then the possibility exists that a points deduction for Sheffield United could follow, even though this involves their owners and not the club itself.

A points deduction would be a massive blow for the Blades given their promotion ambitions.

The entire saga is proving a major distraction already for Wilder, who is preparing his side for the new campaign in pre-season.

The players have returned to training, and Steve Rosen, a leading figure in 1919 Partners, was spotted at their Spanish training camp earlier this week.

The Yorkshire outfit will return to league action on 15 August with a home clash against Birmingham City.

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Sheffield United’s owners need to resolve Prince Abdullah dispute quickly

This legal issue involving the Sheffield United owners is a massive distraction for the club during a very important period in the year off the field.

Supporters would’ve been expecting the club to be active in the transfer market, and instead their fears of a points deduction are having to be eased.

The lack of any transparency on the situation from Rosen or the other members of 1919 Partners is a worrying sign for the fans, who deserve to know what’s going on.

While it’s a positive sign that a points deduction isn’t imminent, it’s not the greatest endorsement of the situation that it’s even on the table to begin with, so the sooner this is sorted out the better.