Chelsea received a punishment for financial breaches that not all Premier League clubs have been happy with and there has been a meeting of clubs since that moment
Chelsea co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly
Chelsea co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly self-reported the Blues' financial breaches(Image: Getty Images)
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There was no ill-temper or angry confrontations, despite some frustration around the punishment Chelsea were handed during the week when Premier League chiefs met earlier this week. The Blues were slapped with the biggest-ever Premier League fine but avoided a points deduction after discovering their penalty for historical breaches relating to financial reporting and third-party investment.
The Blues self-reported a number of issues when Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly bought the club from Roman Abramovich. The west London side were hit by a £10million fine, a suspended one-year first-team transfer ban and an immediate nine-month ban from registering academy players from Premier League and EFL clubs.
Two Premier League clubs raised the sanctions imposed on Chelsea when the league's chair, Alison Brittain, made contact ahead of a meeting later this week. Some executives are said to have questioned why Chelsea were not hit with any sporting sanctions, with Everton boss David Moyes expressing his frustration.
Nottingham Forest and Everton have both previously been hit by points deductions following profit and sustainability rule breaches. Some have questioned how Chelsea have not been dealt with similarly for their financial breaches.
But according to West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, there is no ill will toward the club's new ownership. The situation did not even get a mention at the most recent Premier League meeting.
Writing in her column for the Sun, Brady said: "Since taking over, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have done something rare in modern football — they’ve opened the books, held their hands up and invited the authorities in. And the Premier League itself described their cooperation as 'exceptional'.
"They didn’t dodge. They didn’t deny. They dug up the dirt from the Abramovich years and just handed it over.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, interacts with Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United
Karren Brady has spoken out about Chelsea's punishment(Image: Getty Images)
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"And here’s another telling detail — at Thursday’s Prem meeting, there was no uproar aimed at Chelsea’s hierarchy. No one even mentioned it.
"There was no pile-on. No dressing down. Clubs know exactly where the blame lies — and it’s not with the new regime at Stamford Bridge.
"And let’s also be clear, the Prem executives have handled this properly. I fully support the way they approached this case. That matters.
"Because while Everton and Forest supporters have every right to feel hard done by, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all game."