The English Football Association said Chelsea is facing 74 charges tied to breaches of the rules on agents and intermediaries. The case hits directly at the years when Roman Abramovich was in charge, from 2003 until 2022, and now puts a big piece of the club’s modern history under a harsh spotlight. Most of the alleged violations happened between 2010 and 2016, the FA explained, right when the team was cementing itself as one of the top powers in European soccer. The message from the federation was blunt enough: these charges could end with real sporting punishment, even a points deduction in the Premier League.
The weight of the accusations
Calling this one of the biggest institutional crises Chelsea has ever gone through wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Seventy-four charges is a mountain, not a handful of errors that could be brushed off as sloppy paperwork. What the FA points to is a clear pattern that stretched for more than ten years, all under Abramovich’s ownership. And the contrast is jarring. On the pitch, the Blues were lifting trophies and living their prime years. Off it, the kind of practices that are now being questioned were stacking up quietly in the background.
For supporters, it feels like a punch in the gut. Those unforgettable seasons now come with a shadow that’s hard to shake. And for the Premier League, the situation is a test. Will every club be treated the same, or will size and influence tilt the scales? That’s the question hanging over this case.
Abramovich’s legacy and Boehly’s stance
What makes the story even more striking is that it only surfaced because the current ownership decided to open the books. Todd Boehly and his consortium, who took over in 2022, didn’t try to hide anything. They turned documents over, raised red flags, and even shared information with the Premier League and UEFA, not just the FA.
Boehly has been trying to draw a line between his management and the past. By cooperating fully, he’s made it clear he wants to rebuild the club’s image. Still, that doesn’t erase what came before. The weight of Abramovich’s legacy hasn’t gone anywhere. And if the punishment ends up being severe, it’s the current squad, players who had no role in any of this, along with the fans, who will carry the burden.