Chelsea face 74 charges from the Football Association for alleged transfer agent rule violations during Roman Abramovich\'s ownership from 2009-2022. The charges involve undisclosed payments and unregistered intermediaries in deals for Eden Hazard, Willian, and Samuel Eto\'o.
The FA announced the charges Thursday following investigation into transfer activity under the Russian oligarch\'s tenure. Chelsea could face sporting sanctions including points deductions, though the club expects a financial penalty similar to their €10 million UEFA fine in 2023.
The charges stem from alleged breaches of six FA rules preventing undisclosed payments and third-party influence over club policies. An independent regulatory commission will hear the case and determine sanctions.
Current owners BlueCo self-reported the alleged breaches when completing their 2022 takeover. They commissioned an accountancy study finding the violations provided no benefit under Premier League profitability rules.
BlueCo renegotiated the acquisition to reserve funds for potential fines. A separate Premier League investigation into the same alleged breaches remains ongoing.
\"The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the club\'s files and historical data,\" Chelsea said in a statement. \"We will continue working collaboratively with the FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible.\"
The charges follow Guardian reporting that uncovered payments to agents through companies connected to Abramovich. Beneficiaries allegedly included Hazard\'s agent, Antonio Conte associates, and Chelsea officials.
The investigation utilized Cyprus Confidential files containing 3.6 million offshore records leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The material revealed investments by Abramovich and super-agent Pini Zahavi in third-party ownership across Europe.