The Premier League has tightened requirements for new owners or directors in the league. From now on, human rights violations are one of the disqualifications that allow the Premier League to block a takeover.
Premier League tightens rules after criticism over Newcastle takeover
Those strict regulations were approved by the Premier League clubs during a meeting on Thursday. In addition to human rights violations, a range of crimes are now legitimate grounds for not approving a takeover or the appointment of a director, as is an ongoing investigation into conduct that could potentially lead to disqualification if proven. International sanctions, such as those against former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, are now also subject to those conditions.
The rule change comes after the takeover of Newcastle United by a Saudi Arabian investment fund led to criticism of the Premier League due to the human rights situation in the country. Amnesty International calls these new requirements a step in the right direction, but still warns that the Premier League must be careful not to become a sportswashing toy if the rules are not applied properly. The new rules therefore also apply to the impending takeover of Manchester United.
Rojo is grateful to Van Gaal despite a huge fine: “He was so angry!”
Talking about strict regulations, Marcos Rojo can laugh about it now, but that was different in 2015. The Argentinian defender received a huge fine from Louis van Gaal in the summer of that year. As he had to miss Manchester United’s training camp in the United States.
Rojo was later allowed to join as he faced Argentina in the Copa América final against Chile. However, when he had to report to America. He was refused at the airport because he had not renewed his passport in time. That did not go unpunished. “I was fined £300,000,” Rojo told FourFourTwo. “Van Gaal was so angry!”
The current defender of Boca Juniors can laugh about it now. But eight years ago he was shocked by Van Gaal’s reaction. “It’s terrifying if you don’t know him. He seems so serious, but when you get to know him better you find out that he is a very caring man. He is strict but fair if you are respectful and do what he asks. I am very grateful to him.’
Rojo ended up playing two years under Van Gaal at United. The former Argentina international was one of the purchases of the former national coach of the Dutch national team in 2014, he came over from Sporting Portugal for twenty million euros. In the end, Rojo would play a total of 122 matches for United, winning the Europa League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
