The Premier League may sanction Chelsea for payments made during the Roman Abramovich period that could have violated the Financial Fair Play regulations.
Abramovich’s offshore vehicles were used to reroute many payments totaling “tens of millions of pounds” over a ten-year period, according to a recent investigation by the Guardian. The article claims that recipients of these payments include the agent of Eden Hazard and a business partner of Antonio Conte, the 2017 Premier League champion. There are also claims that it has to do with Willian and Samuel Eto’o’s transfer negotiations.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The files were voluntarily surrendered by Chelsea’s new owners after they found “incomplete financial information” relating to Abramovich’s tenure, which earned them an £8.6million ($10.7m) fine from UEFA. In the long term, however, the ramifications could be more significant. The Guardian continues that if said payments are found to be in breach of their football rules, such as FFP, then the Premier League could impose strict punishments on the Blues – including a potential points deduction.
Chelsea won 18 major trophies during Abramovich’s tenure, which was the most of any English club during that 19-year period. That haul includes five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, two Community Shields, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?The Premier League’s investigation is ongoing, meaning the payments must first be found to be in breach of FFP before punishments are decided. With the threat of a potential deduction, Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues will look to put some more points on the board after the international break, when they take on injury-hit Newcastle on November 25.
