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Chelsea face FA charges over alleged payment breaches

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By Martin Graham

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Chelsea has been accused by the Football Association of committing 74 supposed violations related to payments made to agents from 2009 to 2022.

The bulk of the alleged misconduct concerns signings made between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 campaigns. Three transfers cited in the inquiry involve Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, and Willian, although there is no claim of improper conduct by those players.

The charges relate to the roles of agents, intermediaries, and external investment in players during those years.

Club’s response and possible penalties

The London side, who say they disclosed the possible breaches to the FA themselves, must reply by 19 September.

Possible punishments range from financial penalties to a transfer ban or points deduction, but the club’s significant cooperation is expected to be considered, and they do not anticipate any sporting penalty.

Chelsea sources have also indicated they are not worried about the effect of any future fine on their ability to meet the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, saying they took a potential sanction into account when the club was purchased in 2022.

In a statement, the club said: “During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules.

“Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA.

“The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the club’s files and historical data.”

The Premier League confirmed its own inquiry is still in progress.

Background of ownership and players involved

Russian businessman Roman Abramovich owned Chelsea from 2003 until selling it to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022.

In 2023, the club was fined £8.6m by UEFA for giving “incomplete financial information” covering 2012 to 2019.

Hazard moved from Lille to Chelsea in 2012, scoring 110 goals in 352 matches and collecting two Premier League titles, two Europa League trophies, the FA Cup and the League Cup before leaving for Real Madrid in 2019.

Willian and Eto’o both joined from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013. The Brazilian scored 63 times in 339 games and won five major trophies before departing for Arsenal in 2020, while the Cameroon forward spent one season at Stamford Bridge before moving to Everton.

Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer

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