Chelsea hit with 74 charges by FA

Chelsea have been hit with 74 charges by the Football Association.

The charges relate to alleged breaches of the FA's agent regulations and third-party investment in players.

The alleged breaches took place between 2009 and 2022, when the club was owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

They primarily relate to events which occurred between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons.

Chelsea said the issues were self-declared after the new owners discovered "incomplete financial reporting" when reviewing the club's activity during the takeover process.

The Premier League club added: "We will continue working collaboratively with the FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible."

Sky Sports News understands there will not be a points deduction or sporting sanction if the charges are upheld but Chelsea could face a punishment similar to their recent settlement with UEFA, a €10m (£8.57m) fine.

SSN's chief correspondent, Kaveh Solhekol, said due diligence carried out by Chelsea's owners, BlueCo, during the takeover process "is believed to have uncovered payments connected to transfers to offshore companies and players' families and representatives.

"The payments are believed to be millions of pounds and were not registered in accounts submitted to the FA, the Premier League and UEFA."

Sky Sports News understands the transfers which raised potential concerns are believed to include deals for players such as Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Willian. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of those players.

Independent accounting analysts are understood to have informed Chelsea that even if the alleged irregular payments had been reported correctly at the appropriate times, the club would have always remained compliant with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

In August 2023, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said his organisation was investigating "historical" financial issues that the club had self-reported to the Premier League and to the FA.

A league investigation into whether the club breached any of its rules remains ongoing, the Press Association understands.

A spokesperson for Abramovich has been contacted for comment.

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The previous month, Chelsea agreed to pay European football's governing body €10m after owning up to "incomplete financial reporting" under the Russian's regime.

UEFA said it had been "proactively" approached with the information by Chelsea's new ownership group.

The club has until 19 September to respond to the charges, the FA said.

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