Chelsea Football Club is facing serious scrutiny from the Football Association (FA), having been charged with 74 breaches of regulations concerning agents and third-party ownership of players. The charges relate to conduct between 2009 and 2022, primarily focusing on the period between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons, when the club was under the ownership of Roman Abramovich.
The FA's statement outlines the specific regulations that Chelsea allegedly violated:
The current ownership group, BlueCo, led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, self-reported the potential issues to the Premier League. This occurred during a review of Chelsea's finances following their acquisition of the club on May 30, 2022. The review revealed potentially incomplete financial reporting related to historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules.
Following the self-report, the FA launched an investigation, and the findings have now resulted in these charges. Some reports indicate that the investigation was spurred by mysterious payments potentially linked to the signings of players such as Eden Hazard, Willian, and Samuel Eto'o.
Chelsea has released a statement confirming their engagement with the FA and acknowledging that the matter is nearing a conclusion. The club stated that they immediately reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA, upon completion of the purchase.
The implications of these charges could be significant for Chelsea. The FA has a range of sanctions available, including fines, points deductions, and transfer bans. The severity of the punishment will likely depend on the nature and extent of the breaches, as well as Chelsea's cooperation with the investigation.
Chelsea has until September 19, 2025, to respond to the charges. The club's response and subsequent proceedings will be closely watched by the football world, as the outcome could have a lasting impact on Chelsea's reputation and future.
