Chelsea Hit with 74 Charges by the Football Association

The Football Association has charged Chelsea Football Club with breaches of FA Football Agents Regulations, FA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, and FA Third Party Investment in Players Regulations.

In total, 74 charges have been levelled relating to events occurring between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 playing seasons. The breaches were observed at the time of due diligence being conducted while purchasing the club and were self-reported by the club post change in ownership.

The charges range from payments to unauthorised agents, transfer of players, submission of incomplete financial information, concealment/misrepresentation of facts, payments to persons through offshore companies, working with unregistered intermediaries, third party ownership, tax matters, etc. The club has provided comprehensive access to their files and historical data showcasing transparency.

The European football’s governing body, UEFA, had fined Chelsea in 2023 and in July this year. The present charges, if upheld, may again lead to a fine with sporting sanction or points deduction, which seems unlikely.

In January 2024, FIFA suspended the FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) on account of pending cases, effectively suspending some of the provisions of the FA regulations.