Chelsea is under the scrutiny of a potential Premier League points deduction following revelations of alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches. Reports from an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Germany’s Paper Trail Media suggest a decade-long trail of payments, allegedly ‘routed through offshore vehicles’ during Roman Abramovich’s ownership.
Four prominent sports lawyers, as reported by The Guardian, claim that some of these payments may have violated both Premier League and UEFA regulations. Among the beneficiaries are said to be the agent of Eden Hazard and an associate of Antonio Conte.
The controversy surfaces in the aftermath of questions surrounding the signings of Willian and Samuel Eto’o, with Abramovich’s company allegedly making payments benefiting Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala’s owner, Suleiman Kermov. Chelsea, having previously faced a transfer ban in 2019, now confronts potential bans from FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League.
In response to the allegations, Chelsea asserted that they pre-date the current ownership, based on undisclosed documents. The club spokesperson highlighted the new buyers’ awareness of “potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions during the club’s previous ownership.” As Mauricio Pochettino prepares transfer plans, the looming uncertainty adds complexity to Chelsea’s strategic moves.
