Chelsea slammed with 74 FA charges

Chelsea have been charged with a staggering 74 rule breaches by the Football Association (FA), throwing the Premier League giants into fresh turmoil.

The charges, announced on Thursday, relate to alleged misconduct between 2009 and 2022, covering Roman Abramovich’s reign at Stamford Bridge. They centre on agent dealings, intermediaries, and third-party investment in players.

The Blues, however, insist the breaches were self-reported after Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s takeover in 2022.

“The Club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process… we will continue working collaboratively with The FA,” Chelsea said in a statement.

The club has already paid UEFA a €10m (£8.6m) fine in 2023 for submitting incomplete financial records during Abramovich’s era.

But the storm isn’t over. The Premier League’s own investigation is still ongoing, with reports suggesting Chelsea could face a record-breaking fine if found guilty.

Leaked documents previously showed Abramovich allegedly used offshore companies to funnel millions to agents and associates, raising concerns over Financial Fair Play rules.

The FA, Premier League, and UEFA have all probed the club, but only the FA has now formally charged them. The Premier League’s verdict is expected soon.