Chelsea have been sanctioned by the Football Association (FA) with a £10 million fine and a suspended two-transfer-window registration ban after admitting to multiple breaches of regulations relating to football agents, intermediaries and third-party investment in players.
The punishment follows an investigation into 74 breaches of FA Rule E1.2, which the governing body said were voluntarily disclosed by the club's current owners after acquiring Chelsea.
Announcing the decision on Friday, the FA said an independent Regulatory Commission found the Premier League side guilty after the club admitted the offences.
According to the governing body, the violations involved breaches of the Football Agent Regulations, the Regulations on Working with Intermediaries and the Third Party Investment in Players Regulations.
The FA also confirmed that investigations into individuals linked to the case are still underway.
It disclosed that the Regulatory Commission had originally imposed a suspended six-point deduction, alongside the £10 million fine.
Chelsea, however, challenged the sporting sanction before an independent Appeal Board.
Following the appeal, the panel set aside the suspended points deduction and replaced it with a suspended ban preventing the club from registering players during two successive transfer windows.
The registration ban will remain suspended until June 30, 2027, meaning it will only take effect if the club breaches the conditions attached to the sanction before that date.
The FA noted that Chelsea accepted the financial penalty and did not appeal against the £10 million fine.
It added that the proceeds from the sanction would be invested in grassroots football development across England.
According to the governing body, the breaches occurred under Chelsea's previous ownership but were uncovered and reported by the club's new owners following their takeover.
The FA said the self-reporting formed part of the disciplinary process that resulted in the sanctions announced on Friday.
Although the case against the club has now been concluded, the association stressed that inquiries into the conduct of individuals connected with the breaches remain ongoing.
Leave a Reply