Chelsea FC has been heavily sanctioned by the Premier League after multiple financial irregularities were confirmed during the ownership of Roman Abramovich. The English league imposed a €11.5 million fine and a sporting penalty that includes a one-year transfer ban. However, the ban will be suspended for the next two years, provided the club does not commit further violations.

The breaches date back to the period between 2011 and 2018, when Chelsea made undisclosed payments to agents, players, and third parties through companies linked to the club’s ownership. These transactions were not reported to football authorities at the time, directly violating financial regulations.

According to the Premier League’s official statement, these activities were uncovered in 2022 when Abramovich was forced to sell the club due to his ties to the war in Ukraine. The BlueCo consortium then took control and played a key role in cooperating with the investigation.

The sanction was partially mitigated thanks to Chelsea’s proactive approach, as the club admitted the charges and provided what was described as “exceptional cooperation.”

In addition, the Premier League found the club guilty of breaching rules related to youth player development between 2019 and 2022. As a result, Chelsea will pay an additional £750,000 fine and will be banned from registering academy players from Premier League and EFL clubs for nine months.  The club will also be responsible for covering all legal costs associated with the case.

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