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.
Beneficiaries appear to include the agent of the star player Eden Hazard, an associate of the title-winning manager Antonio Conte and Chelsea FC officials. Other payments appear to have been connected to the purchase of the players Willian and Samuel Eto’o.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/15/chelsea-fc-face-new-questions-over-how-roman-abramovich-funded-success
That’s now two of the most financially doped clubs being found potentially guilting of breaking the rules of the game. Anyone genuinely surprised? And will we see justice prevail? I doubt it.
Chelsea in trouble
posted on 15/11/23
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 45 minutes ago
Devonhi buddy
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Greetings! How do you feel about all this? Does it bother you that, if proven, you have basically cheated your way to success. Do fans care?
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Na...the guardian along with "international partners" with no proof and with lazy writing like " leaked files revealed a string of secret payments that may have breached strict football rules".
Sounds like a netflix documentary
posted on 15/11/23
Note that this is a bit different than what City is accused of. Basically this is a modern version of paying a player and his agent under the table with a Manila envelope full of cash, but now out of a 'slush fund' on the Caymans, Virgin Island, etc. mainly to dodge taxes and in this case to even out the books for FFP.
Very common in the 80s/90s and way more black or white (if the receiver and/or payer didn't report it for taxes it's 100% breaking taxation laws ) than BSing around leak as a sieve financial fair play rules.
My hometown club got dinged for it (1-2 players) in the 90s with a hefty fine which almost bankrupted the club at that time, but I don't know what a common penalty would be nowadays if you dodge taxes in the millions. Could be jail time if you look at cases in Spain...
posted on 15/11/23
George Graham vibes
posted on 15/11/23
comment by Lerradinho (U21557)
posted 14 minutes ago
Note that this is a bit different than what City is accused of. Basically this is a modern version of paying a player and his agent under the table with a Manila envelope full of cash, but now out of a 'slush fund' on the Caymans, Virgin Island, etc. mainly to dodge taxes and in this case to even out the books for FFP.
Very common in the 80s/90s and way more black or white (if the receiver and/or payer didn't report it for taxes it's 100% breaking taxation laws ) than BSing around leak as a sieve financial fair play rules.
My hometown club got dinged for it (1-2 players) in the 90s with a hefty fine which almost bankrupted the club at that time, but I don't know what a common penalty would be nowadays if you dodge taxes in the millions. Could be jail time if you look at cases in Spain...
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Maybe they'd kick roman out the country and sieze all his asse...wait...
posted on 15/11/23
Greek tax dodging was a national sport, but basically home economics 101 for amateurs.
The big boys all went to George Graham School of Football Finance
posted on 15/11/23
Deducting PTS from Chelsea in a season where they aren't likely to finish top 4 anyway isn't even a harsh punishment. That would be them getting off lightly as long as they stayed up which I think they still would.
Make them start next season on minus 12 or whatever is decided. Now that's a proper punishment.
posted on 15/11/23
I'm having none of this "it has nothing to do with the current owners" or "they pointed it out so they shouldn't be punished" rubbish. They pointed it out because they knew it would come to light due to the added scrutiny as a result of government involvement. And not being the owners at the time? Tough luck, the club shouldn't get away with benefitting from breaking rules.
If the FA do the right thing then we will be awarded the 2017 PL title.
posted on 15/11/23
comment by SimonB (U22811)
posted 27 minutes ago
I'm having none of this "it has nothing to do with the current owners" or "they pointed it out so they shouldn't be punished" rubbish. They pointed it out because they knew it would come to light due to the added scrutiny as a result of government involvement. And not being the owners at the time? Tough luck, the club shouldn't get away with benefitting from breaking rules.
If the FA do the right thing then we will be awarded the 2017 PL title.
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Who said we shouldn't be punished if found guilty of something? Regards pointing it out just in case, it was documented at the time that we freely addressed this issue once we, the club, none else discovered the anomalies. Mergers, take over as sales are subject to scrutiny right down to account level, that isn't to say they want be fudged but at point of sale this wasn't spotted, nor was it in previous ffp reviews.
posted on 15/11/23
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 2 hours, 51 minutes ago
Deducting PTS from Chelsea in a season where they aren't likely to finish top 4 anyway isn't even a harsh punishment. That would be them getting off lightly as long as they stayed up which I think they still would.
Make them start next season on minus 12 or whatever is decided. Now that's a proper punishment.
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A 12 point deduction would relegate them
posted on 16/11/23
comment by JFDI (U1657)
posted 18 hours, 31 minutes ago
comment by SimonB (U22811)
posted 27 minutes ago
I'm having none of this "it has nothing to do with the current owners" or "they pointed it out so they shouldn't be punished" rubbish. They pointed it out because they knew it would come to light due to the added scrutiny as a result of government involvement. And not being the owners at the time? Tough luck, the club shouldn't get away with benefitting from breaking rules.
If the FA do the right thing then we will be awarded the 2017 PL title.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who said we shouldn't be punished if found guilty of something? Regards pointing it out just in case, it was documented at the time that we freely addressed this issue once we, the club, none else discovered the anomalies. Mergers, take over as sales are subject to scrutiny right down to account level, that isn't to say they want be fudged but at point of sale this wasn't spotted, nor was it in previous ffp reviews.
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Remember the government going through the sale of the club with a "fine tooth combe" it was said.