Chelsea Face 74 FA Indictments For Alleged Abramovich Era Violations

JAKARTA - Chelsea have been charged with 74 violations of British Football Federation (FA) regulations regarding agents, intermediaries, and third-party investments in players.

A consortium led by Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital completed the club takeover in May 2022.

Then, they identified the accounting discrepancy inherited from Roman Abramovich's ownership.

The indictment relates to the 2009 to 2022 period, but mainly between 2010 and 2016. Chelsea has until September 19, 2025 to respond. The deadline can be extended if necessary.

According to ESPN reports, Chelsea is expected to receive financial penalties, instead of potential points deductions or other sporting sanctions.

In July 2023, Chelsea agreed to pay UEFA 10 million euros (around Rp192 billion) after voluntarily identifying what it described as incomplete financial reporting during the Abramovich era.

"FA today charged Chelsea FC with violating the J1 and C2 Regulations of FA Football Agents, A2 and A3 Regulations of FA Regulations on Cooperation with Intermediaries, and Regulations A1 and B3 of Third Party Investment Regulations on Players by the FA," read the FA statement released on Thursday, September 12, 2025, local time.

Chelsea are not expected to object to the allegations that will be questioned by the FA's Independent Regulatory Commission.

"Chelsea FC is pleased to confirm that her involvement with the FA regarding matters reported by the club has now reached a conclusion."

"The group of club owners completed the club's purchase on May 30, 2022. During a thorough due diligence process before the purchase was completed, the group of owners realized there was potential incomplete financial reporting related to historical transactions and potential violations of other FA rules."

"As soon as the purchase is complete, the club reports the matter to all relevant regulators themselves, including the FA."

"The club has shown unprecedented transparency during this process, including by providing comprehensive access to the club's historical files and data."

"We will continue to work with the FA to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We would like to express our gratitude to the FA for their involvement with the Club in this complicated case, whose focus has been on the issues that have occurred more than a decade ago," Chelsea said in a statement on the FA allegations.

Among the special rules allegedly violated by Chelsea is the provision that clubs, players, intermediaries, or other participants should not regulate things in such a way as to hide or distort reality and/or substance of any matters related to transactions or contract negotiations.

"Klub tidak boleh menggunakan jasa, baik langsung maupun tidak langsung, Agent Tidak resmi dalam hubungannya dengan Kegiatan Agency apa pun."

"The club is not allowed, either direct or indirect, to make any payments to Unofficial Agents in connection with any Agency Activities," reads J1 Rules.