Payments made by Chelsea during the Roman Abramovich era that might have broken Financial Fair Play regulations could result in penalties from the Premier League.
Payments totaling “tens of millions of pounds” were made over a ten-year period, according to a recent Guardian investigation, and were routed through Abramovich’s offshore firms.
The paper states that two people who received the money are an associate of Premier League champion Antonio Conte and the agency of Eden Hazard.
Willian and Samuel Eto’o’s moves are rumoured to be involved as well.
After UEFA fined Chelsea £8.6 million ($10.7 million) for “incomplete financial information” stretching back to Abramovich’s time, the club’s new owners voluntarily returned the papers.
The long-term effects, nevertheless, might be extensive. The Guardian claims that the Blues might be subject to harsh sanctions, such as losing ground, if it is found that the payments violated Premier League regulations, including FFP.
Chelsea won the most major trophies of any English team during Abramovich’s 19-year tenure, with 18.
The total includes a FIFA Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, three League Cups, five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two Community Shields, and two Champions Leagues.
Since the Premier League is still investigating, no fines will be applied unless it is established that the payments were made in contravention of FFP.
When they play injury-plagued Newcastle on November 25, Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues will look to add to their point total as a possible deduction approaches.
