Chelsea facing 74 charges over agent payments

CHELSEA have been hit with 74 Football Association charges after their current owners self-reported financial issues to the football authorities they uncovered when buying the club from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

- By JAMIE GARDNER

The charges relate to alleged breaches of the FA’s rules governing agents, and are understood to centre on alleged irregular payments made as part of deals which brought Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Willian, among others, to Chelsea during the Russian’s tenure. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of those players.

Chelsea could face a sporting sanction, such as a transfer ban or a points deduction, if some or all of the charges are found proven, but the club's role in proactively bringing the matter to light may mean an independent commission hearing the case would determine a fine is an appropriate penalty.