Sports
Chelsea Hit With 74 Football Association Charges
Chelsea Football Club has been charged with 74 alleged breaches of Football Association (FA) rules related to payments made to agents between 2009 and 2022.
The FA confirmed on Thursday that most of the charges concern the 2010/11 to 2015/16 seasons. The club has until September 19 to respond.
The case stems from financial practices under former owner Roman Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003 and sold the club in May 2022 to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government in March 2022 over his links to Russia, allegations he has denied.
In a statement, Chelsea said they were “pleased to confirm that its engagement with the FA concerning matters that were self-reported by the club is now reaching a conclusion.” The club added that the new ownership became aware of incomplete financial reporting during due diligence checks and immediately reported it to regulators after completing the takeover in May 2022.
Chelsea emphasized their “unprecedented transparency” and pledged continued cooperation with the FA. This follows a €10 million (£8.6m) settlement with UEFA in July 2023, after the club voluntarily disclosed financial irregularities from the Abramovich era.
The British government has also threatened Abramovich with legal action regarding the frozen £2.5 billion from the Chelsea sale. While ministers want the funds directed towards humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Abramovich has insisted they should also benefit victims of the wider conflict.
As the FA investigation nears its conclusion, Chelsea await the outcome of one of the most significant financial scrutiny cases in Premier League history.
