Prospective Everton owners 777 Partners have their assets FROZEN in Belgium amid financial troubles at group's club Standard Liege - after being granted a two-week extension to prove they are fit for Toffees' takeover
- The Miami-based group took over Belgian Pro League side in March 2022
- Friday saw fans postpone their top-flight match in protest of club's ownership
- CHRIS SUTTON: Fans are sick and tired of VAR... but it's here to stay - Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast
Would-be Everton buyers 777 Partners have had their company assets frozen in Belgium following an alleged defaulted payment relating to their ownership of top-flight club Standard Liege.
Relations between the club and their Miami-based ownership group hit an all-time low on Friday after fans forced the postponement of their Belgian Pro League match against Westerlo following a protest which blocked the team's bus from reaching the stadium.
In January, Standard Liege were put under a transfer ban after failing to meet transfer payments for two players who moved to the side before 777 Partners took over the club in March 2022.
Further payment issues - in this case an alleged defaulted payment to the company which owns the club's stadium - have prompted an intervention from the Belgian courts, who have authorised the seizure of all 777 Partners's assets in the country.
As per the Associated Press, this includes Standard's accounts and shares, as well as shares in Immobiliere Standard de Liege, which owns the club's Maurice Dufrasne stadium. 777 Partners did not respond to the Associated Press when contacted for comment.
![777 Partners have had their assets in Belgium frozen amid protests by their club Standard Liege's supporters](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/23/84980281-13427933-image-a-19_1715897757238.jpg)
777 Partners have had their assets in Belgium frozen amid protests by their club Standard Liege's supporters
![Founder Josh Wander has been eyeing a takeover of Everton since September but saga rolls on](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/23/84980283-13427933-image-a-20_1715897762426.jpg)
Founder Josh Wander has been eyeing a takeover of Everton since September but saga rolls on
-
PODCAST: Have England been playing with fear as Southgate suggests?
-
LISTEN: Southgate only England manager to be criticised whilst winning
-
PODCAST: The REAL reason England through despite playing badly
-
PODCAST: 'Just ONE good performance' could change England's fortunes
-
PODCAST: Are the England team buying into Southgate's style of play?
In a statement shared by Immobiliere Standard de Liege, whose shareholders include former owner Bruno Venanzi, the company said that they hoped the decision would prompt action from 777.
'Following the seizure of 777´s assets, including shares and accounts in Belgium of Immobiliere and the club, we hope that this move will prompt 777 and/or its crisis manager to respond to our questions and requests, which have so far been ignored,' the statement read.
'If there is no response from them, we will take further action to protect our interests and those of Standard Liege.
'Our priority is to ensure the continuity and stability of the club in the short, medium and long term. We are at the disposal of the club's management to help them find a lasting solution for Standard Liege.'
The company is believed to be owed the second of three agreed payment installments (worth £3million) following the 2022 sale of the stadium, with a deadline previously set for April 2015.
![But amid significant legal and financial turbulence, the long-running deal could be under fire (Wander pictured at Goodison Park in February)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/23/84980435-13427933-image-a-23_1715898110864.jpg)
But amid significant legal and financial turbulence, the long-running deal could be under fire (Wander pictured at Goodison Park in February)
There had also been some significant delay to the players at the club receiving their wages - as per Dutch outlet Nieuwsblad, wages have now been received in arrears for April.
Standard is just one of a number of clubs owned by the group, including Genoa and Vasco da Gama, but Everton is looking less and less likely as an addition to the stable - despite 777 Partners having made significant financial investment into the club over the 2023-24 season.
Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that the perspective buyers have been given a two-week extension to prove that they are capable of purchasing the club nine months since the beginning of their lengthy takeover saga.
Terms on that agreement were due to expire last week and Iranian owner Moshiri strongly considered breaking off the agreement. He had doubts over 777’s ability to provide long-term funding for the club and it emerged other parties were interested in buying Everton.
No representatives of 777 were present at Goodison Park for Saturday’s win over Sheffield United - they have been at most games since they struck a deal to buy a club - and that seemed to be symbolic for the takeover bid being dead in the water.
![The Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri is thought to have given the group a deadline extension](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/23/84980335-13427933-image-a-22_1715898021158.jpg)
The Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri is thought to have given the group a deadline extension
The freezing of 777's Belgian assets is just the latest in a string of financial maelstroms the group has been caught up in, seemingly since founders Josh Wander and Steve Pasko first struck a deal with Moshiri in September.
Last week, the company was accused of fraud in a New York lawsuit – the 17th lawsuit in which the firm had been named.
One of their other firms, an airline called Bonza, went into administration a fortnight ago, and left passengers stranded in Australia.