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With the 2026-27 season of the Premier League beginning next month, Chelsea have landed themselves into some off-field trouble. The Premier Club has been fined an enormous amount of £10 million ($13.41 million) after admitting to multiple historical breach of regulations, as the governing body announced on July 31, Friday.
Who reported the breaches from Chelsea?
The breaches were self-reported by Chelsea following its takeover by U.S. investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in May 2022. The Premier League club avoided a points deduction after successfully appealing part of the original punishment. However, Chelsea will face a suspended two-window registration ban through to June 30, 2027.
After reviewing the case, an independent Regulatory Commission initially imposed a suspended six-point deduction, but that sanction was later set aside on appeal.
“Chelsea FC admitted to 74 breaches of FA Rule E1.2 prior to a hearing and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed a six-point deduction, which was to be suspended until 30 June 2027, and a £10 million fine. The club appealed against the suspended points deduction and an independent Appeal Board allowed the appeal and set aside this sanction following a further hearing,” the FA said in a statement.
Rule breaches included of regulations relating to third-party investments and on working with intermediaries, among others.
The £10 million fine was not subject to appeal, with the FA adding that the full amount will be directed towards grassroots football initiatives.
“In 2022, the club self-reported potential historical rule breaches to all applicable regulators. Following that report, it has worked openly and transparently with all regulators, including voluntarily and proactively disclosing many thousands of documents,” Chelsea said in a statement.
The latest sanction follows other financial penalties imposed on Chelsea for historical regulatory violations. In March, the club was fined a record £10.75 million for breaches of the Premier League regulations. Chelsea were also handed a one-year first-team transfer ban, suspended for two years, along with an immediate nine-month ban on academy player transfers.
As for Premier League 2026-27, they will open their campaign against Fulham at Craven Cottage in London. The Blues finished the previous season at the 10th spot.
(With inputs from Reuters)
