Chelsea have been hit with 74 charges by the Football Association, sparking fears of a major points deduction.
The alleged breaches stretch back to the Roman Abramovich era and involve payments to agents between 2009 and 2022.
For a club already under pressure on the pitch, the timing could not be worse.
But despite the scale of the case, experts suggest the Blues may avoid the harshest outcome. That is because of how the charges were handled, and who is now running the club.
Chelsea reported the issues themselves after Todd Boehly’s BlueCo took charge in 2022. That early move, paired with full cooperation, could prove vital.
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Will Chelsea get a heavy points hit?
Former Manchester City adviser Stefan Borson explained the key factor (via Football Insider): “The nub of it will be whether anybody can establish that the breaches created a sporting advantage. If you have a sporting advantage established, then it’s likely that you end up with a sporting penalty. Now, that can be mitigated by considerations like new ownership, early guilty plea, lots of cooperation.”
The precedent from recent cases also matters. Everton were docked eight points last season, while Nottingham Forest lost four.
Both clubs saw reductions because of how they engaged with the process. In Forest’s case, their penalty was cut by 30 percent due to early admission and cooperation.
Chelsea could argue for similar treatment, or even more. As Borson added: “You would think that Chelsea would be able to get 30 per cent, maybe even a 40 per cent reduction for their mitigation, adding all the bits and pieces together if everything they’re saying is true.”
A storm still brewing
Still, rival clubs are pushing for punishment. Reports have linked the charges to high-profile transfers, including Eden Hazard’s move in 2012.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness has already claimed other Premier League sides will demand a points deduction.
The FA has given Chelsea until September 19 to respond. What happens next could shape not only the Blues’ season, but also the league’s stance on financial breaches moving forward.
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