FA charges Chelsea with 74 breaches of rules regarding agents and intermediaries
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LONDON – Chelsea were charged by the Football Association on Sept 11 with 74 alleged breaches of rules related to payments to agents and intermediaries between 2009 and 2022, when the football club were owned by Roman Abramovich.
The alleged breaches primarily relate to events which occurred between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons, the FA said in a statement, adding that the Blues have until Sept 19 to respond.
While the FA did not elaborate on the charges, Chelsea said in a separate statement that the matters were “self-reported” by the club after the change in ownership in 2022.
Russian billionaire Abramovich, who had owned Chelsea since 2003, put the London club up for sale in 2022 following sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In May 2022, he agreed on a record £4.25 billion (S$7.39 billion) deal with a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, leaving the club that he bought for just £140 million.
During his era, the Blues racked up a staggering 19 major trophies – including five Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs – thanks to his injection of funds.
Sky Sports reported that due diligence during the takeover process is believed to have uncovered payments linked to transfers to “offshore companies and players’ families and representatives”.
The payments are believed to be millions of pounds and were not registered in accounts submitted to the FA, the Premier League and European governing body Uefa.
“During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules,” Chelsea said in a statement.
“Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA.
“The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the club’s files and historical data.
“We will continue working collaboratively with the FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible.”
In July 2023, Chelsea agreed a resolution with Uefa to hand over €10 million (S$15 million) after owning up to “incomplete financial reporting” under the Abramovich regime.
Uefa said it had been “proactively” approached with the information by Chelsea’s new ownership group.
In August 2023, the Premier League said it was probing “historic” financial issues that Chelsea had self-reported to the Premier League and the FA. REUTERS, AFP
