The Premier League fined Chelsea £10.75m yesterday for illicit payments to agents and other individuals during Roman Abramovich’s tenure, but the FA’s decision is still pending.
The club have been handed the Premier League’s biggest-ever fine of almost £11m. The Blues have also been given a suspended one-year transfer ban and an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban.
It comes after Todd Boehly and Clearlake found, during their due diligence of the club’s transfers under Abramovich before their takeover in 2022, that secret payments were made and remained undisclosed.
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Having been honest and admitting Abramovich’s payments, Chelsea avoided a points deduction and an immediate first-team transfer ban. Boehly had planned for this, dating back to the takeover fee he paid.
Now, Chelsea learn of The FA’s decision
Indeed, GRV’s Football Finance expert Adam Williams reports that Boehly secured a £150m discount to Abramovich’s 2022 £2.5bn takeover price, with that extra £150m set aside to address this issue.
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But the Premier League’s ruling is only one half of this. The Blues will be relieved that there was no points deduction from The FA, and that the fine is easily affordable. But Chelsea are awaiting an FA decision.
Now, The Times say Chelsea have learnt if the 74 illicit payments will incur the wrath of a points deduction from English football’s governing body. Indeed, The Times say The FA will follow the Premier League.
Indeed, The FA will not force a points deduction on Chelsea, and while the fine is yet unknown, Chelsea have plenty left in the bank to deal with it. While it is a touchy subject, Chelsea have got away with it.
The 10 players at the centre of Chelsea’s secret payments
It was reported yesterday and then again by The Times that the fine imposed on Chelsea comes from payments made to certain individuals involved in deals for nine signings, between 2011 and 2018.
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The deals to sign Samuel Eto’o, Eden Hazard, Ramires, Andre Schurrle, David Luiz, Willian, Nemanja Matic and three more unknown players are the reason for the fine. Two have been named as receiving cash.
Former sporting director Frank Arnesen was one, as was previous scout Piet de Visser. But ultimately, it is Boehly’s planning and honesty that has made this ruling, albeit the league’s biggest, seem comfortable.
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