Chelsea could be braced for more than just a financial punishment amid news of a £150 million war chest put aside to absorb potential penalties from the Football Association. The fund was revealed by Fordstam Limited, the company that facilitated the club’s sale from Roman Abramovich to the BlueCo consortium in 2022.
In September, Chelsea were accused of 74 breaches around agent fees and third-party ownership in historic transfers, including the acquisitions or disposals of Eden Hazard, Willian and Samuel Eto’o. All the alleged malpractice took place under Abramovich’s rule, though the new ownership self-reported it after taking over.
Chelsea were expected to escape sporting sanctions as they co-operated and football finance specialist and lawyer Stefan Borson warned that the amount – and the accounting treatment of the £150m provision — means it is not a foregone conclusion.
“The holdback is also a preoccupying amount,” Borson told The Guardian. “It may not just cover fines but also monetary losses due to potential sporting sanctions, like points deductions or Champions League qualification.”
Fordstam also noted “doubts about the recoverability” of the money, implying the club expects to absorb the costs. As a result, fears are growing that Chelsea could face severe competitive punishment, not just a fine.
