Chelsea are staring down the barrel of serious Football Association sanctions after being hit with 74 charges relating to financial irregularities during the Roman Abramovich era.
The allegations focus on deals that brought the likes of Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o and Willian to Stamford Bridge, with the FA claiming irregular agent payments were made between 2010 and 2016. Crucially, there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the players themselves.
So what’s the punishment? If the charges are proven, Chelsea could face a points deduction or even a transfer ban. However, the fact that the club’s current owners self-reported the issues after taking over in 2022 may soften the blow. A hefty fine is seen as the most likely outcome.
This isn’t the first time the Blues have paid the price for financial missteps. Back in 2023, they were fined €10m (£8.6m) by UEFA after voluntarily handing over documents during due diligence checks on Abramovich’s old regime.
In a statement, Chelsea insisted they had shown “unprecedented transparency” throughout the process and confirmed talks with the FA are close to wrapping up. The club has until September 19 to respond formally.
The Premier League is also running its own investigation in parallel, meaning further trouble could be on the horizon.
Abramovich, forced to sell the club in 2022 following sanctions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has yet to comment.
🔵 The bottom line: While the spectre of a points deduction looms, Chelsea’s proactive stance and willingness to cooperate may save them from the harshest penalties. But with the FA and Premier League circling, this saga is far from over.
