The troubles of Chelsea Football Club and its former owner, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, have taken another dramatic turn. The English Football Association (FA) has charged the club with more than six dozen breaches of its regulations over improper financial conduct during Abramovich’s tenure. The case, which touches on secret offshore payments, questionable player transfers, and international money-laundering probes, represents one of the most sweeping regulatory actions ever brought against an English football giant.

The allegations, centered on transactions between 2011 and 2016, cast new light on the financial practices that fueled Chelsea’s transformation into one of Europe’s most successful clubs under Abramovich’s rule. What was once hailed as a golden era of trophies is now mired in accusations of deception, secrecy, and systemic regulatory breaches.

According to the FA’s statement, Chelsea is accused of funneling undisclosed payments through offshore companies to secure the transfers of marquee players, including Belgian winger Eden Hazard, Brazilian forward Willian, and Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o. These payments, investigators allege, were deliberately hidden from football authorities, violating regulations designed to prevent clubs from disguising costs, manipulating financial fair play rules, and destabilizing the sport’s competitive balance.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) played a key role in exposing these transactions through its Cyprus Confidential investigation. Partnering with The Guardian and other outlets, the probe revealed how Cyprus served as a secrecy hub for Abramovich’s sprawling offshore empire. Dozens of leaked documents detailed how money was routed via opaque corporate structures to agents, intermediaries, and player representatives.

The FA’s regulatory panel will now consider whether Chelsea’s financial maneuvers not only........

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