Leaked Roman Abramovich files implicates Chelsea

Despite it being roughly 2 years since Roman Abramovich sold the club, Chelsea continues to be dragged in with the Russian billionaire as investigations into the  club’s past ownership takes a new twist.

The Premier League club faces intensified scrutiny following the emergence of leaked files shedding light on how former owner Roman Abramovich reportedly funded the club’s successes through undisclosed payments.

The Guardian UK obtained documents revealing a sequence of clandestine payments amounting to tens of millions of pounds, routed through offshore entities owned by Abramovich.

These clandestine transactions, spanning over a decade, have sparked concerns about potential breaches of football regulations, particularly regarding financial fair play rules.

The beneficiaries of these payments include the agent of iconic player Eden Hazard, an associate of former title-winning manager Antonio Conte, as well as officials within Chelsea FC.

Moreover, certain payments have been linked to the signings of former Chelsea stars Willian and Samuel Eto’o.

The ongoing probe is reportedly part of the Cyprus Confidential investigation, signaling potential ramifications for Chelsea that could range from severe fines to even a Premier League points deduction.

This latest scrutiny compounds existing investigations into Chelsea’s financial conduct during Abramovich’s ownership tenure from 2012 to 2019. The Premier League is already examining incomplete financial information submitted during that period.

Additionally, UEFA previously imposed an £8.6 million fine on Chelsea over similar financial dealings, further emphasizing the club’s history of scrutiny regarding financial compliance.

The pressure mounts on the Blues and it appears Todd Boehly’s new era may be the ones to bear the brunt from the bad publicity