Chelsea 'could be handed a points deduction' after leaked documents revealed 'a string of payments during Roman Abramovich's tenure that may have breached financial fair play'

Chelsea are set to face further Premier League scrutiny over reports of payments connected to former owner Roman Abramovich.

The Guardian has claimed that Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who owned the club for 19 years until he was sanctioned by the British Government last year, used offshore companies to make payments for the club.

The Premier League is already investigating the Blues after their new owners became aware of ‘potentially incomplete financial reporting’ linked to Abramovich’s era while completing due diligence as part of the takeover.

The League has not commented the allegations but it is likely it will look closely at the information reported.

A Chelsea spokesperson said: ‘These allegations pre-date the club’s current ownership. They are based on documents which the club has not been shown and do not relate to any individual who is presently at the club.’ 

Chelsea’s stance under their new owners has been consistent — to examine any allegations of impropriety under the previous ownership as soon as they become aware of them.

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and invested millions as the club enjoyed unprecedented success, including Champions League victories in 2012 and 2021 and five Premier League titles.

He was forced to sell the club after his assets were frozen by the Government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The FA has confirmed it is investigating, although it is unclear whether that relates to the information Chelsea self-reported or the new allegations.

Chelsea agreed an £8.7million settlement with UEFA after also self-reporting the information which came to light during the 2022 takeover to them.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said: 'If there is proof that the club has used third party transactions to circumvent the profitability and sustainability rules then sanctions would be either financial or a points deduction.

'The latter is more likely as any commission investigating a club's circumstances will want to put out a deterrent that dissuades others from repeating such behaviour.'

It was revealed last month that a Premier League investigation into Chelsea's transfer dealings during the Abramovich era is looking at secret payments made by the club when they signed Willian and Samuel Eto'o.

The former Blues pair completed their transfers to Chelsea in August 2013 from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala and have been flagged for further investigation, as claimed by The Times.  

Chelsea's current owners led by Boehly, reportedly flagged the transfers while they were in the process of purchasing the club from Abramovich.

Brazilian winger Willian joined Chelsea in a £30m deal from Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala 10 years ago after initially appearing set to join Tottenham.

Former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Eto'o followed in the same transfer window after taking a £10m pay cut to be part of Jose Mourinho's squad at Chelsea.

Financial records reportedly suggest that in addition to the transfer payments being made by Chelsea, there were further payments that may have been sent to so-called 'Russian entities'.

There is no suggestion either player were aware of the associated dealings, however, their transfers form part of an ongoing investigation into the club under Abramovich's reign.