Chelsea Football Club have been charged by the Football Association (FA) with 74 alleged rule breaches relating to payments to agents and intermediaries between 2009 and 2022 during Abramovich era.
The charges focus heavily on the period between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons, and involve several high-profile transfers, including deals for Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o and Willian.
The FA explained there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of those players.
The Allegations
According to the FA, the breaches concern:
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Agents and intermediaries’ payments
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Third-party investments in players
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Potentially incomplete financial reporting
Chelsea, then under the ownership of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, are accused of failing to fully disclose payments connected to transfer deals.
Abramovich controlled the club from 2003 until 2022, before selling Chelsea to the consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, following sanctions imposed by the UK government over his alleged ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, allegations he has consistently denied.
Chelsea’s Response
In a statement, Chelsea insisted they were the ones who reported the matter themselves:
“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 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.”
The club has until 19 September to formally respond to the charges.
Possible Sanctions
The FA has a wide range of options for sanctions, including:
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Fines
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Transfer embargo
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Points deduction
However, Chelsea sources insist they do not expect sporting sanctions, citing their “high level of co-operation” and self-reporting.
The club also stated they have already factored potential financial punishment into their sustainability planning after the 2022 takeover, and that any fines would not breach the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
In 2023, Chelsea were previously fined £8.6m by UEFA for “submitting incomplete financial information” between 2012 and 2019.
Big-Name Deals Under the Spotlight
Three of the most high-profile transfers caught up in the probe are:
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Eden Hazard (2012) – Signed from Lille for around £32m, he went on to become one of Chelsea’s greatest modern players, scoring 110 goals in 352 games and winning the Premier League (2), Europa League (2), FA Cup and League Cup before joining Real Madrid in 2019.
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Willian (2013) – Signed from Anzhi Makhachkala, the Brazilian scored 63 goals in 339 appearances, lifting five trophies with the Blues before leaving for Arsenal in 2020.
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Samuel Eto’o (2013) – Also signed from Anzhi, the Cameroon legend spent just one season at Chelsea, scoring 12 goals before moving to Everton.
The Abramovich Factor
Abramovich’s tenure at Chelsea ended in 2022 after he was sanctioned by the UK government amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He was granted a special license to sell the club, provided he would not personally benefit from the proceeds. He pledged that funds would go towards a foundation for “all victims of the war in Ukraine,” including those in Russia.
The £2.5bn proceeds of the sale remain frozen in a UK bank account, inaccessible to Abramovich, though he still legally owns them.
In 2023, leaked Cyprus Confidential documents linked Abramovich to a secret £26m deal in 2010 and described him as tied to so-called “wallets” of Putin, claiming he has repeatedly denied.
