Chelsea Football Club have been charged with 74 breaches of Football Association, FA, regulations, in a case that stretches back more than a decade.
The FA, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the alleged misconduct occurred between 2009 and 2022, with the bulk of the breaches taking place between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 seasons.
The charges relate to violations of the FA Football Agents Regulations, the Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, as well as the FA’s rules on Third Party Investment in Players. Chelsea have until September 19 to respond.
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Reacting to the development, Chelsea stressed that the matter was self-reported by the club’s new owners after they completed the takeover on May 30, 2022.
The London side insisted that they have been transparent with the governing body throughout the process.
“During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions,” the club explained in its statement.
It added that there were also “other potential breaches of FA rules” discovered during that process.
“Immediately upon completion, Chelsea FC self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including The FA.
“The club has given unprecedented access to its files and historical data and will continue working with The FA to conclude this matter as quickly as possible.”
