Chelsea Football Club has been charged with 74 breaches of Football Association (FA) regulations related to the use of agents, intermediaries, and third-party investment in players, the FA announced on Thursday. The alleged violations span more than a decade, from 2009 to 2022.
While the FA did not detail the specific charges, it confirmed that most of the alleged misconduct took place between the 2010–11 and 2015–16 seasons, during Roman Abramovich’s ownership of the club.
Following the club’s sale to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in May 2022, Chelsea said it “self-reported” the irregularities after uncovering them during a due diligence process.
“Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA,” Chelsea stated.
“The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency throughout this process, providing comprehensive access to historical records and data. We will continue working collaboratively with the FA to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
A source told Reuters the club had fully opened its books to assist the FA in assessing the historical transactions. The source also confirmed the charges relate solely to the men’s team but declined to reveal further details, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
Chelsea have until September 19 to formally respond to the charges. Potential sanctions could include fines, points deductions, or transfer bans, depending on the FA’s findings and response to the club’s transparency.
Background and Prior Sanctions
This is not the first time Chelsea has faced regulatory scrutiny.
- In 2019, FIFA imposed a transfer ban on the club over breaches involving 29 underage international players.
- In July 2023, UEFA fined Chelsea €10 million for submitting incomplete financial information linked to past transactions from 2012 to 2019.
- The Premier League also launched an ongoing investigation into potential financial rule breaches under Abramovich, including payments to offshore entities tied to football agents.
- Most recently, in July 2025, Chelsea were fined €31 million by UEFA for failing to comply with financial sustainability rules.
To avoid harsher penalties, the club entered a four-year settlement agreement with UEFA, which could trigger an additional €60 million fine if financial controls are not met.
