The Premier League has become more careful about clubs that have been breaking the Financial Fair Play rules for some time. After the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham being charged, Chelsea is now the next club that is being investigated.
With Everton recently given a 10 point deduction for breaking FFP rules, there is more pressure on Chelsea to be penalized if found guilty. But the club and it’s manager are not at all worried about any punishment being given.
Why is Chelsea being investigated over Financial Fair Play?
Chelsea are being investigated for breaking Financial Fair Play rules, but surprisingly it is not because of the current ownership’s heavy spending. Allegedly, the previous owner Roman Abramovich made many secret payments which may have been used to bypass the FFP rules.
Roman had sold the club in 2022 to Todd Boehly and his American consortium after he was sanctioned by the government due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Recently, British media outlet The Guardian investigated the leaked files from the club, where it was revealed that tens of millions of pounds were paid through offshore vehicles owned by Abramovich himself.
The leaked files under scrutiny were allegedly disclosed by the club itself in recent days. Payments were directed to various individuals, including agents and connections to former Blues players and managers like Eden Hazard, Antonio Conte, Willian, and others. There is suspicion that these payments were conducted covertly to ensure compliance with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
This suggests that the Premier League giants may have been engaging in unfair practices in the transfer market. The investigation aims to determine if these secret payments were made for the club’s benefit and whether they are documented officially. If found guilty, severe penalties such as substantial fines, point deductions, and transfer bans are potential consequences.
Mauricio Pochettino on Chelsea being under investigation
Despite the potential risk of facing a points deduction amid an already challenging season, manager Mauricio Pochettino remains unfazed. When asked if he had discussed the situation with the owners, he responded with a simple “no,” stating, “It’s not my place to speak about.”
Pressed about whether the investigation concerns him, he calmly replied, “No.” Pochettino, formerly the manager of Tottenham, was also asked about the possibility of Tottenham being awarded the title if the allegations are substantiated, to which he nervously laughed at the idea.
Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League, in a season that is going from bad to worse. They will next play against Brighton on December 3 at Stamford Bridge.
