Chelsea Charged with 74 Alleged Breaches Over Agent Payments

Photo Credit: Justin Tallis / AFP

September 11, 2025 - The Football Association (FA) has formally charged Chelsea Football Club with 74 alleged breaches of agent payment regulations spanning from 2009 to 2022. According to the FA, the bulk of the charges relate to transactions conducted between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 seasons. The club has been given until September 19 to respond.

The charges follow a self-reporting process initiated by Chelsea’s current ownership group, which took control of the club on May 30, 2022. In a statement released Thursday, Chelsea said: “During a thorough due diligence process before completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules.”

The club added that it “self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA,” and affirmed that it had “demonstrated unprecedented transparency” throughout the investigation. Chelsea also expressed satisfaction that its engagement with the FA was “now reaching a conclusion.”

The alleged breaches stem from the period under former owner Roman Abramovich, who acquired Chelsea in 2003 and oversaw a transformative era for the west London club. Abramovich sold the club in May 2022 to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

In July 2023, Chelsea reached a settlement with UEFA, agreeing to pay €10 million after admitting to “incomplete financial reporting” under the previous ownership. UEFA confirmed that the club’s new owners had “proactively” disclosed the irregularities.

Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He was described by officials as being closely linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he has denied any financial ties to the Kremlin.

In a related development, the UK government in June threatened legal action over the frozen £2.5 billion proceeds from Chelsea’s sale. Ministers have called for the funds to be directed toward humanitarian aid in Ukraine, while Abramovich has insisted they be used to support victims on both sides of the conflict.

Chelsea’s current leadership maintains its commitment to regulatory compliance and continues to cooperate with football authorities as the case progresses.

AFP