The FA has charged Chelsea with 74 breaches of agent payment rules between 2009 and 2022. The club, under Abramovich at the time, self-reported after new owners took over
Chelsea charged by FA with 74 breaches over agent payments between 2009 and 2022, English football’s governing body announced on Thursday.
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The Football Association (FA) said the alleged breaches mainly cover the 2010/11 to 2015/16 seasons. The Premier League club has until September 19 to formally respond.
The charges stem from financial irregularities linked to payments to football agents during Roman Abramovich’s ownership of the club.
Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003, oversaw its transformation into one of Europe’s elite before selling to the Todd Boehly-led consortium in May 2022, shortly after being sanctioned by the UK government for alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement, Chelsea confirmed its cooperation:
“The club’s ownership group completed its purchase of the club on May 30, 2022. During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules.
Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA.”
Chelsea said it had shown “unprecedented transparency” and pledged to continue working with the FA.
The club had already reached a settlement with UEFA in July 2023, agreeing to pay €10 million (£8.6m, \$11.7m) for “incomplete financial reporting” during the Abramovich era. At the time, UEFA said Chelsea’s new owners had “proactively” disclosed the irregularities.
The FA charges add fresh scrutiny to Abramovich’s legacy. The former Chelsea owner remains locked in a dispute with the UK government over the frozen £2.5 billion proceeds from the club’s sale, which ministers want directed to humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Abramovich insists the funds should be distributed to all victims of the conflict, including Russians.
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The FA did not disclose potential sanctions, but punishments for financial rule breaches could include fines or, in severe cases, points deductions.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
