Chelsea FC has narrowly avoided a six-point deduction after a successful appeal against financial misconduct allegations. Instead, the London-based club received a suspended transfer ban, sparing them immediate sporting penalties.

The Football Association (FA) initially identified violations spanning 2009 to 2022, when the club was under the ownership of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Investigations revealed that most irregularities occurred between 2010 and 2016. The current ownership team uncovered these breaches during their takeover in 2022. Last September, the FA formally lodged 74 charges against the club.

Between 2011 and 2018, Chelsea allegedly made £47 million (€54.5 million) in payments to unregistered agents and third parties. High-profile transfers implicated include Eden Hazard’s move from Lille in 2012, as well as arrivals of Samuel Eto’o, Willian, André Schürrle, Nemanja Matić, and David Luiz. These transactions have now come under intense scrutiny.