As Chelsea face possible sanctions after being hit with 74 charges by the Football Association, we take a look at the other Premier League clubs that've been stripped of points in the past
Chelsea could be hit with a points deduction this season due to their financial breaches
Chelsea could be hit with a points deduction this season due to their financial breaches
The Football Association has charged Chelsea with breaking transfer rules regarding the payment of agents and third-party ownership of players. The FA confirmed that 74 charges have been brought against Enzo Maresca's side.
The official ruling reads: "The Football Association has today charged Chelsea FC with breaches of Regulations J1 and C2 of The FA Football Agents Regulations, Regulations A2 and A3 of The FA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, and Regulations A1 and B3 of The FA Third Party Investment in Players Regulations. In total, 74 charges have been brought against Chelsea FC.
"The conduct that is the subject of the charges ranges from 2009 to 2022 and primarily relates to events which occurred between the 2010/11 to 2015/16 playing seasons. Chelsea FC has until 19 September 2025 to respond."
Despite Chelsea previously self-reporting instances from the Roman Abramovich era, the club could still be fined further, receive a transfer ban or even see their Premier League points total reduced if these payments were not registered in the annual report.
Fans will be hoping that a fine is all they'll endure this season, as we take a look at some rare occurrences where teams have been hit with point deductions.
Middlesbrough - 1996-97
Middlesbrough's three-point deduction was one of the most controversial top-flight punishments at the time after they cancelled their away match against Blackburn in December 1996.
11 May 1997: Craig Hignett (left), Juninho and Curtis Fleming (right) of Middlesbrough face relegation after the FA Carling Premier League match against Leeds United at Elland Road in Leeds, England.
Middlesbrough were relegated at the end of the season
Boro claimed that they did not have enough players to fulfil the fixture due to a virus that had swept through the whole team. The three-point deduction saw Middlesbrough drop from 14th to 19th in the Premier League, and they were eventually relegated by two points.
Portsmouth - 2009-10
Portsmouth experienced extreme financial difficulty in the late noughties, which meant they were unable to pay staff members and squad players for months. Before February 2010, the club changed ownership for the third time and entered administration.
However, Pompey's troubles were far from over. The Premier League announced that they would be deducted nine points due to their financial ruin. In March, the points were taken, which all but confirmed their relegation to the Championship.
The Premier League said in a statement: "Following the High Court's decision that Portsmouth FC's administration is valid the Premier League board convened today to apply the League's rules and policies in relation to a member club suffering an event of insolvency.
"As a result, Portsmouth FC has been deducted nine points with immediate effect. As part of this process the board met with the administrator to agree how we will work together for the remainder of the season to ensure that the club is able fulfil its commitments."
Everton - 2023-24
Everton fans hold up a sign about their point deduction during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England.
Everton managed the impossible by avoiding the drop(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Everton were recently found to have breached the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules, which resulted in two separate points deductions. The Toffees were found to have miscalculated their PSR for the 2021/22 season, and were initially hit with a 10-point deduction during the 2023/24 season.
However, following an appeal, the tally was reduced from 10 to six. Just months later, in April 2024, Everton received a further two-point deduction for their financial losses during the 2022/23 season.
This put them in a Premier League relegation battle, but the club managed to avoid the drop. After their safety was confirmed in May, Everton withdrew their appeal and continued in the top-flight.
Nottingham Forest - 2023-24
Cheikhou Kouyate of Nottingham Forest looks dejected after conceding the teams second goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town at City Ground on October 21, 2023 in Nottingham, England.
Nottingham Forest also avoided relegation(Image: Nottingham Forest FC/Nottingham Forest FC via Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest were in the same boat as Everton in the same season, although they weren't hit half as hard as their league rivals. The Tricky Trees dropped into the relegation zone during the 2023/24 season after receiving a four-point deduction from the Premier League for breaching PSR rules.
The deduction saw the club drop to 18th place, but despite this late blow in the battle for safety, Forest climbed back up the ranks and finished six points clear of relegation, in 17th place. Everton, meanwhile, sat two places above in 15th, 14 points clear of the drop, despite losing four more points than the Reds during the same season.
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