The Football Association has filed 74 charges against Chelsea Football Club, alleging serious financial misconduct that took place during the club’s ownership under Roman Abramovich. 

The charges, which focus on the years from 2009 to 2022, were brought to light when the new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, uncovered what they described as “incomplete financial reporting” during their takeover. 

By immediately self-reporting the issues to the FA and other governing bodies, the club is hoping for a more lenient penalty, such as a financial fine rather than a sporting punishment, as they work to correct past mistakes and ensure future financial compliance.

On September 11, 2025, the Football Association (FA) brought 74 charges against Chelsea Football Club, alleging serious breaches of financial rules that primarily occurred during the ownership of Roman Abramovich. 

The charges, which span from 2009 to 2022 but focus on the 2010-11 to 2015-16 seasons, relate to improper payments to agents, intermediaries, and third-party investments in players.

This move follows a period of immense success for the club under Abramovich, who was the owner from 2003 until 2022. 

During his time at the helm, Chelsea won 21 major titles. 

The charges, however, cast a shadow over that trophy-laden era, raising questions about whether some of that on-field success was enabled by off-field financial misconduct.

The charges came to light as a direct result of the due diligence process undertaken by Chelsea’s new owners, the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. 

The new ownership, which took over in May 2022, discovered what they described as “potentially incomplete financial reporting” regarding historical transactions. 

They immediately self-reported these findings to the FA, Premier League, and UEFA.

This proactive approach by BlueCo, the name of the new ownership group, has been seen as a critical step in demonstrating their commitment to transparency and moving past the club’s previous financial practices. 

The club has stated that it has provided “unprecedented transparency” and full access to historical records to assist with the investigations.

While Chelsea’s cooperation could lead to a lighter penalty, a financial fine is seen as the most likely outcome, rather than a sporting punishment like a points deduction or transfer ban. 

A sporting sanction would punish current players and staff who were not involved in the alleged misconduct, and it could also discourage other clubs from self-reporting potential breaches in the future.

The current situation is not the first time Chelsea has been scrutinized for its financial dealings under the previous ownership. 

In 2023, the club paid a settlement of £8.6 million to UEFA for similar issues of incomplete financial reporting. 

The ongoing Premier League investigation into these matters suggests a deeper, systemic issue within the club’s past operations.

Chelsea has until September 19, 2025, to respond to the FA’s charges. 

The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for how football’s governing bodies handle historical financial misconduct, and it highlights the increasing scrutiny on financial compliance across the sport. 

For Chelsea, the focus is now on reform and ensuring future operations are fully compliant, a commitment underlined by their financial decisions, such as an £18 million transfer window profit in 2025.