Chelsea at Risk as 74 FA Charges Filed Over Abramovich Era Deals | OneFootball

Chelsea Facing 74 FA Charges Over Agent Dealings

Chelsea have once again found themselves at the centre of English football’s scrutiny, this time with 74 charges laid by the Football Association over breaches of agent regulations. The investigation stretches back over a decade, casting a long shadow over the club’s recent history and reigniting debate around transparency in football governance.

Charges Dating Back More Than a Decade

In a statement, the FA confirmed: “The conduct that is the subject of the charges ranges from 2009 to 2022 and primarily relates to events which occurred between the 2010/11 to 2015/16 playing seasons. Chelsea FC has until September 19, 2025 to respond.”

For Chelsea, these allegations are not just about paperwork or technical breaches; they cut to the heart of how football clubs conduct their business during an era defined by rapid financial growth and shifting ownership structures.

Ownership’s Self-Reporting and Financial Adjustments

What makes this case particularly striking is that Chelsea’s current owners were the ones to bring potential irregularities into the open. During the takeover in 2022, the Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly consortium identified issues that could eventually lead to financial settlements. To reflect this risk, they negotiated a £100 million reduction on the £2.5 billion purchase price agreed with Roman Abramovich.

Photo: IMAGO

That detail underlines just how significant the irregularities appeared to those conducting due diligence at the time. Rather than burying the concerns, the new ownership moved swiftly to alert governing bodies.

Settlements with European Football Authorities

This isn’t the first time Chelsea have faced consequences. In 2023, the club reached an £8 million settlement with UEFA after self-reporting possible breaches to European football’s governing body. Similar reports were also submitted to the Premier League, showing a pattern of transparency that might soften the eventual judgement from regulators.

What This Means for Chelsea’s Future

The question now is how these 74 charges will be treated and what sanctions, if any, will follow. For Chelsea supporters, the hope will be that this moment represents the closing of a difficult chapter rather than the beginning of another turbulent period. The new owners have positioned themselves as committed to reform and compliance, but the sheer scale of the charges demonstrates just how deep the issues run.