Chelsea Charged with 74 FA Rule Breaches
Chelsea have been charged with 74 alleged breaches of Football Association rules, mostly tied to financial dealings with agents and third parties during Roman Abramovich’s time as owner. The FA says the conduct spans from 2009 to 2022, with most of the issues believed to have occurred between 2010 and 2016. Some of the transfers under scrutiny reportedly involve players like Eden Hazard, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o. The club has until 19th September to respond.
The charges were self-reported by Chelsea’s current owners, who took over in May 2022. They say they discovered potential rule breaches during the due diligence process before buying the club and then flagged them to all relevant authorities. "The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process," Chelsea said, adding they were "grateful to the FA" and hoped to resolve the matter quickly.
Sanctions could include a fine, transfer ban, or points deduction, but Chelsea’s cooperation may play in their favour. The Premier League’s investigation into the club’s finances is still ongoing. In 2023, Chelsea had already agreed to pay UEFA £8.6 million for past Financial Fair Play violations.
