Football

Chelsea Fined N850M By UEFA

UEFA has sanctioned Chelsea over incomplete financial reporting.


29th July 2023 06:20 AM

Chelsea have agreed a resolution with European football governing body UEFA that will see them hand over 10 million euros (about 11 million dollars or N850 million).

This was after the English clubside owned up to “incomplete financial reporting” under the Roman Abramovich regime.

A new ownership group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their take-over of the club in May last year from Abramovich.

The Russian was sanctioned over his links to Russia president Vladimir Putin.

UEFA, which has also banned Juventus from competing in the Europa Conference League this season due to financial irregularities, confirmed it was approached “proactively” by the Boehly-led consortium.

They detected instances of partial financial information being submitted in historical transactions occurring between 2012 and 2019, breaching UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations.

A UEFA statement said: “Following its assessment, including the applicable statute of limitations, the CFCB (Club Financial Control Body) First Chamber entered into a settlement agreement with the club.

”It has agreed to pay a financial contribution of 10 million euros to fully resolve the reported matters.”

The sanction represents another blow for Chelsea’s current owners after a disappointing first year at the helm.

The club’s 12th-place finish in the Premier League last term their worst since 1993/1994.

Chelsea have forked out around 600 million pounds (770 million dollars) in transfers since Boehly’s arrival.

Also, former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been tasked with turning around their on-pitch fortunes.

Chelsea said in a statement the owners became aware of potential impropriety when carrying out a “thorough due diligence process” prior to the purchase.

It said upon completion of the take-over, they reported this to UEFA.

The statement added: “In accordance with the club’s ownership group’s core principles of full compliance and transparency with its regulators, we are grateful that this case has been concluded by proactive disclosure of information to UEFA and a settlement that fully resolves the reported matters.

“We wish to place on record our gratitude to UEFA for its consideration of this matter.

“Chelsea greatly values its relationship with UEFA and looks forward to building on that relationship in the years to come.”