Chelsea faces the possibility of a Premier League point deduction as newly leaked documents suggest a series of payments made during Roman Abramovich’s ownership may have breached Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules and other regulatory guidelines. The files, uncovered through a collaborative investigation by the Guardian, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), and Germany’s Paper Trail Media, reveal payments totaling tens of millions of pounds spread over a decade.
These payments are said to have been “routed through offshore vehicles” owned by the Russian billionaire, who was compelled to sell the club in 2022 due to sanctions imposed on his UK assets following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Questions have been raised about whether the governing bodies were informed of these financial transactions for Chelsea’s benefit.
Amidst these revelations, Petr Cech’s new role has been confirmed, adding another layer of intrigue for Chelsea. The legendary goalkeeper departed the club in 2015 after an illustrious 11-year tenure. Since then, Chelsea has faced challenges in finding a suitable replacement for the goalkeeping position. Asmir Begovic and Thibaut Courtois initially took on the responsibilities but departed within the next two years. In 2018, the club acquired Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper at the time, backed up by experienced Premier League veteran Willy Caballero.
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Kepa’s tenure was marked by scrutiny and media attention, with incidents such as his refusal to be substituted in the 2019 EFL Cup Final against Manchester City drawing significant criticism.