Chelsea FC face fresh questions over how its former owner Roman Abramovich funded the club’s success, after leaked files revealed a string of secret payments that may have breached strict football rules, including those on “financial fair play”.
Experts said the transactions, uncovered through a joint investigation by the Guardian and international partners, could lead to the Premier League imposing punishments on Chelsea, such as a deduction of points.
The files reveal a series of payments worth tens of millions of pounds over a decade, routed through offshore vehicles belonging to Abramovich. The transactions in question appear to have been for Chelsea’s benefit, raising questions about whether they were declared in accounts submitted to football’s governing bodies.
Every time I read about Roman’s financial transactions, there are new shell companies from the BVI. More shell companies than people have throwaway email/reddit accounts. He must have a dedicated guy on payroll just for naming them.
You do have to question this entire piece of journalism considering it’s not telling us anything new or groundbreaking. We already know as fact that Clearlake have reported secret payments that were made under previous ownership to the Premier League months ago when going through the club’s finances. I don’t suppose Bruce Buck or Marina are around to face questioning?
I swear it’s like a new publication gets to write this exact story every couple of weeks (coincidentally the last one came during the last international break aka slow news cycle).
Next they’re going to tell us we paid Andreas Christensen’s dad as a scout or that we paid Bertrand Traore’s mum - both of which we’ve already served two transfer bans for btw.
We already know as fact that Clearlake have reported secret payments that were made under previous ownership to the Premier League months ago when going through the club’s finances.
I don’t think much of it has been leaked to the press though - this is the media doing what the should be doing.
The question is, what kind of punishments should Chelsea face? If it’s a small points deduction years later, when it ultimately doesn’t matter, then it’s not much of a deterrent to anyone else.
Lol, that’s not a deterrent at all as that has no tangible impact on the team.
The games still happened, the players got their bonuses and new contracts, the fans got their parades and merch. Who cares if a wikipedia entry gets changed?
You can never take back those moments, but it’s definitely a more severe punishment than a points deduction on a season where it’s likely not going to matter that much.
Do you not think that maybe that is why Clearlake reported what they did. To muddy the water like this. They report the least damning thing they can find and lump every other accusation in as what they’ve already reported.
This is separate to the ones Boehly reported. These new transactions became known due journalists investigating dodgy dealings between Cypriot companies and Russians.
Generally yes, but this sale was fast tracked, so it wasn’t completely done and they kept 100m from the sale amount, anticipating these fines because of poorly kept books.
Wrong. This information is due to insider leaks from a Cypriot bank/company. You can read about this story and others from the excellent OCCRP reporting.
Experts said the transactions, uncovered through a joint investigation by the Guardian and international partners, could lead to the Premier League imposing punishments on Chelsea, such as a deduction of points.
The files reveal a series of payments worth tens of millions of pounds over a decade, routed through offshore vehicles belonging to Abramovich. The transactions in question appear to have been for Chelsea’s benefit, raising questions about whether they were declared in accounts submitted to football’s governing bodies.
Every time I read about Roman’s financial transactions, there are new shell companies from the BVI. More shell companies than people have throwaway email/reddit accounts. He must have a dedicated guy on payroll just for naming them.
I’ve never understood the success of shell companies, just go out on the beach and pick them up.
Don’t get me started on hedge funds. The guy I pay to do mine once only costs £200 for the day.
You do have to question this entire piece of journalism considering it’s not telling us anything new or groundbreaking. We already know as fact that Clearlake have reported secret payments that were made under previous ownership to the Premier League months ago when going through the club’s finances. I don’t suppose Bruce Buck or Marina are around to face questioning?
I swear it’s like a new publication gets to write this exact story every couple of weeks (coincidentally the last one came during the last international break aka slow news cycle).
Next they’re going to tell us we paid Andreas Christensen’s dad as a scout or that we paid Bertrand Traore’s mum - both of which we’ve already served two transfer bans for btw.
They’ve found more payments haven’t they. That’s what this is saying. It’s more of the same stuff. Not looming good for chelsea
Did you read the article? It literally states multiple instances of rule breaches that have not been self reported.
I don’t think much of it has been leaked to the press though - this is the media doing what the should be doing.
The question is, what kind of punishments should Chelsea face? If it’s a small points deduction years later, when it ultimately doesn’t matter, then it’s not much of a deterrent to anyone else.
The only fair punishment that would also act as a deterrent, is to strip them of all their titles during this period.
Or make them take Havertz and Mount back and refund the clubs.
Lol, that’s not a deterrent at all as that has no tangible impact on the team.
The games still happened, the players got their bonuses and new contracts, the fans got their parades and merch. Who cares if a wikipedia entry gets changed?
Bet you won’t have this opinion when city fans sing “champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that” at the Etihad
I really doubt if Chelsea’s CL wins get vacated that City’s will stand…
You can never take back those moments, but it’s definitely a more severe punishment than a points deduction on a season where it’s likely not going to matter that much.
A points deduction would keep Chelsea out of Europe for another year and hurt them financially. What’s an asterisk going to do?
I’m not convinced you clicked the link and read the article
Do you not think that maybe that is why Clearlake reported what they did. To muddy the water like this. They report the least damning thing they can find and lump every other accusation in as what they’ve already reported.
Sad for the new owners since nobody from the Roman era is still there but I guess they didn’t do the necessary due diligence.
Hard to believe they didn’t know. Everyone knew.
Actually, it is due to Boehly this is known. After they took over, he found these transaction and reported them.
This is separate to the ones Boehly reported. These new transactions became known due journalists investigating dodgy dealings between Cypriot companies and Russians.
The hero we need but not the 1 we deserve.
Isn’t due diligence usually done in advance of a buy? Seems kind of reckless.
Generally yes, but this sale was fast tracked, so it wasn’t completely done and they kept 100m from the sale amount, anticipating these fines because of poorly kept books.
Wrong. This information is due to insider leaks from a Cypriot bank/company. You can read about this story and others from the excellent OCCRP reporting.
https://www.occrp.org/en/cyprus-confidential/
Looks like relegation fight is back on the menu, boys