Chelsea came dangerously close to suffering a devastating points deduction that would have sent them down to the Championship, according to new reports.
The Football Association confirmed on Friday that Chelsea had been handed a £10 million fine and a suspended two-window transfer ban for financial breaches dating back to the Roman Abramovich era.
The FA originally charged Chelsea back in September 2025 for conduct described as “ranging from 2009 to 2022”, though the case primarily relates to events between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 playing seasons.
The charges focused heavily on transfers completed during that period, including the signings of Samuel Eto’o, Eden Hazard, and Willian, all of which came under scrutiny during the investigation.
A report in the Daily Mail claimed to reveal details of the FA’s findings, stating that a “starting point of 15 points is appropriate” as an initial recommended punishment for the club.
Had Chelsea been docked 15 points at the end of last season, the Blues would have dropped below the relegation line, finishing below 18th-placed West Ham by two points.
The recommended deduction was ultimately reduced, with written reasons explaining that “the starting point will accordingly be reduced by 1/3 to 10 points to reflect the general mitigation under the heads of self-reporting and cooperation.”
Chelsea’s current ownership self-reported the breaches upon purchasing the club in 2022 and are understood to have been cooperative and transparent throughout the entire investigation process.
The FA released a statement confirming the full scope of the case, noting that “Chelsea FC admitted to the 74 breaches of FA Rule E1.2 prior to a hearing and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed a six-point deduction, which was to be suspended until 30 June 2027, and a £10 million fine.”
Chelsea successfully appealed the suspended six-point deduction, with the FA confirming that “an independent Appeal Board allowed the appeal and set aside this sanction following a further hearing” and replaced it with a suspended two-window registration ban.
The FA also confirmed that “the £10 million fine imposed by the Regulatory Commission was not subject to appeal and the full amount will be invested into grassroots football.”
Chelsea responded with their own statement, confirming that “a final decision has been reached by The FA’s judicial bodies in relation to historical regulatory matters that were self-reported by the Club.”
The club also confirmed that settlement agreements had already been reached with both UEFA and the Premier League over the same self-reported matters before this FA process concluded.
Chelsea closed their statement by saying: “We are grateful to UEFA, the Premier League and The FA for their engagement with the Club throughout these processes,” bringing a lengthy and complex regulatory chapter to a close.
