Chelsea fined £10.75m, handed one-year transfer ban
Chelsea FC have been fined £10.75 million by the Premier League and given a one-year transfer ban, suspended for two years, following an investigation into undisclosed payments linked to player
Chelsea FC have been fined £10.75 million by the Premier League and given a one-year transfer ban, suspended for two years, following an investigation into undisclosed payments linked to player transfers during the club’s previous ownership.
The fine relates to secret payments to agents totalling £47.5 million made between 2011 and 2018, when the club was owned by Roman Abramovich. The probe also uncovered breaches of regulations regarding the registration of youth players.
According to the sanction agreement, the payments occurred with the knowledge and approval of former senior employees and/or directors at the club.
The transactions were discovered during the due diligence process when Chelsea’s new American owners acquired the club in 2022. The club subsequently self-reported the irregularities to the Premier League, the The Football Association and UEFA.
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In addition, Chelsea have been handed a nine-month academy transfer ban with immediate effect for breaches committed between 2019 and 2022.
The Premier League said the club’s “proactive self-reporting” and “exceptional co-operation” during the investigation were major mitigating factors in determining the sanctions.
Chelsea said they accept the settlement in full and welcomed the league’s recognition of their assistance in the investigation.
However, the suspended transfer ban could be activated if the club commits similar offences within the next two years or if the Premier League determines that the club declaration submitted during the investigation was intentionally inaccurate.
Separately, UEFA fined Chelsea £8.64 million (€10m) in July 2023 for incomplete financial reporting linked to the previous ownership in 2018 and 2019.
Investigators identified at least six suspect payments made to offshore companies connected to player transfers. The seven-figure payments were not included in the financial accounts the club submitted to football authorities at the time.
The transfers examined are believed to include those involving Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Andreas Christensen.
Football clubs are required to submit accurate financial information annually to the Football Association and the Premier League, as well as to UEFA for clubs participating in its competitions.
UEFA’s five-year statute of limitations means it could only investigate breaches dating back to the 2017/18 season, while the Premier League does not operate under such a limitation period.
