Chelsea are facing a substantial fine after the Football Association charged the club with 74 breaches of its rules relating to the use of football agents. The charges stem from an investigation into transfer activity under former owner Roman Abramovich, with allegations including undisclosed payments to secure transfers.
The deals under scrutiny include those for Eden Hazard, Willian and Samuel Eto'o. The FA announced the charges on Thursday, which relate to alleged breaches of six rules in place between 2009 and 2022. The case will be heard by an independent regulatory commission, which has the power to impose sporting sanctions including a points deduction.
Chelsea, however, anticipate a financial penalty similar to the €10m fine imposed by Uefa in 2023 for incomplete financial reporting. The club pointed to their 'unprecedented transparency' in self-reporting the breaches after the BlueCo takeover in 2022 and commissioned a study that found no benefit under Premier League profitability rules. BlueCo also set aside funds to cover any fines.
A Chelsea statement said: '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.'
The charges follow an investigation by the Guardian and international media partners, which uncovered payments to agents through companies linked to Abramovich. Beneficiaries included the agent of Hazard and an associate of manager Antonio Conte. The FA’s charges are understood to relate partly to those findings.
