The FA v Chelsea FC

The Football Association has today published the decisions of an Independent Regulatory Commission and an Appeal Board here in the case of The FA v Chelsea FC.

In September 2025, following the largest ever investigation undertaken by The FA, Chelsea was charged with 74 breaches of the Agents, the Intermediaries and the Third Party Interest Regulations in relation to transactions concerning 32 players.  The breaches occurred when the Club was owned by Roman Abramovich.

At first instance, the Regulatory Commission fined Chelsea £10 million and imposed a sporting sanction in the form of a deduction of 6 points which it suspended until 30^th June 2027.

The Club appealed, and on appeal the points deduction was replaced by a registration ban for two complete and consecutive transfer windows, suspended until 30^th June 2027.

The offences came to light during the acquisition of the Club by its new owners, who self-reported the matter to The FA, the Premier League and UEFA in May 2022.

Brian O’Neill KC and Tom Day, together with Ben Carroll, Andrew Poulton and Georgina King of Linklaters LLP, were instructed by The FA.

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