The Football Association (FA) has charged Chelsea Football Club with 74 alleged breaches of rules related to payments to agents spanning more than a decade, from 2009 to 2022.
According to the FA, the majority of the alleged violations occurred during the 2010/11 to 2015/16 seasons, a period when Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich owned the West London club. Chelsea has been given until September 19 to formally respond to the charges.
Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003 and oversaw the club’s most successful era, sold the Blues in May 2022 to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. His ownership ended after he was sanctioned by the British government in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich has denied any direct financial ties to the Kremlin, despite being described by ministers as part of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
In a statement on Thursday, Chelsea said it was “pleased to confirm that its engagement with the FA concerning matters that were self-reported by the club is now reaching a conclusion.”
The club added that during the due diligence process prior to the 2022 takeover, Boehly’s consortium discovered “potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules.” Chelsea said it immediately informed the FA and other regulators, pledging “unprecedented transparency.”
Chelsea had already settled a related case with UEFA in July 2023, agreeing to pay €10 million (£8.6m; $11.7m) after admitting to incomplete financial reporting during Abramovich’s tenure. UEFA confirmed that it was “proactively” approached by Chelsea’s new owners with the information.
Meanwhile, Abramovich remains entangled in legal disputes over the £2.5 billion proceeds from the sale of Chelsea, which remain frozen. The UK government wants the funds redirected to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, but the former owner has argued they should aid all victims of the war, including those in Russia.
This latest development deepens scrutiny of Chelsea’s past financial practices and raises questions about the wider culture of football club ownership and accountability in English football.
