NafisaEFL Rule Overhaul Opens Door to English Clubs Investing in Scottish Sides Amid Surging Cross-Border Ownership Trend
A major shift in the English Football League’s (EFL) multi-club ownership policy could trigger a wave of investment from English clubs into Scottish football. As reported by *The Guardian*, the EFL has formally revised its rules to permit clubs across the Championship, League One, and League Two to take ownership stakes in teams within the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and the Irish Football League.
This decision, reached during the EFL’s Annual General Meeting earlier this month, lifts a longstanding restriction that previously prohibited such cross-border arrangements. The timing is significant, coming in the wake of a major move by 49ers Enterprises—led by Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe—who recently gained majority control of Rangers while also holding ownership of Leeds United and the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
Though Premier League clubs have never been subject to these particular ownership restrictions, the EFL’s alignment signals a growing acceptance of cross-league investment models. Notable precedents include Leeds’ affiliation with Rangers, Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s £10 million investment for nearly a third of Hearts, and Bournemouth owner Bill Foley’s £6 million acquisition of a 25 percent stake in Hibernian via the Black Knights Group—the first major multi-club deal in Scottish football.
The regulatory change could spur more English clubs to follow suit, especially as closer cooperation between the EFL and Premier League appears increasingly likely, particularly following the high-profile £75 million acquisition of a controlling interest in Rangers by 49ers Enterprises.
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