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Chelsea confirmed that the issues were self-reported by the club following the change of ownership
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London – The English Football Association (FA) has charged Premier League club Chelsea with 74 breaches of its rules on football agents, intermediaries, and third-party investment in players.
The alleged misconduct spans more than a decade, from 2009 to 2022, with the majority of the breaches linked to the 2010–11 to 2015–16 seasons, according to an FA statement released on Thursday. The governing body did not provide specific details of the charges, which are understood to relate to payments to player agents and intermediaries.
Chelsea, however, confirmed that the issues were self-reported by the club following the change of ownership in May 2022. At the time of the alleged breaches, Chelsea was under the ownership of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who sold the club after facing UK sanctions in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The club was subsequently acquired by a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Roman Abramovich
In a statement, Chelsea said the current ownership identified the concerns during the takeover process.
“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,” the club said.
“Immediately upon 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, providing comprehensive access to files and historical data. We will continue working collaboratively with the FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible.”
The charges represent one of the most extensive disciplinary cases ever brought against a Premier League club by the FA, adding to the ongoing scrutiny of financial governance in English football.
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