Aston Villa owners accused of "taking advantage" – Questions being asked about ownership

Aston Villa owners V Sports face criticism over their 29% stake in Portuguese club Vitória, with concerns raised about the club's identity and financial management.

V Sports, the holding company controlled by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, holds a 29% minority stake in Portuguese club Vitória. They initially acquired a 46% stake in February 2023, later reducing it to 29% after both clubs qualified for the 2023/24 Europa Conference League to comply with UEFA multi-club ownership rules.

The arrangement has already seen player movement between the clubs, with two Aston Villa players loaned to Vitória this summer. However, former presidential candidate Viriato Sampaio has raised concerns about the partnership, fearing the club risks losing its identity. He accused V Sports and Nassef of "taking advantage of a fragile situation caused by the mismanagement of recent years," pointing to Vitória's negative equity of €36.8m.

Sampaio called for greater clarification on the partnership terms and what Aston Villa's long-term intentions are for the club, noting that V Sports' stakes in other clubs like Real Unión and Annecy have seen limited investment. He also questioned the transparency around player transfers between the two clubs.