Chelsea set to escape points deduction over secret payments made under Abramovich risking fury of Premier League rivals
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CHELSEA are close to escaping a points deduction for the secret payments during the ownership of Roman Abramovich. The Stamford Bridge club paid an £8.6m fine to Uefa in 2023 when they confessed to the illegal payments made to agents and players. Chelsea were under legal obligation to own up to the breaches, with Prem legal chiefs investigating the matter for 18 months.
![[Roman Abramovich, Chelsea owner, smiling at a Champions League game.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/roman-abramovich-owner-chelsea-smiles-764433548.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But it has emerged that the Blues are now negotiating a financial settlement with Prem legal beaks. This would allow them to avoid a points deduction. That could spark a rebellion from Prem rivals - who believe Chelsea should be fully punished for their actions even though the ownership of the club has since changed.
![[Todd Boehly, Chelsea co-owner, at Stamford Bridge.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/stamford-bridge-chelsea-co-owner-938813205.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Prem investigation centres on the signings of Brazilian Willian and Cameroon superstar Samuel Eto’o in 2013, as well as the arrival of Eden Hazard 12 months earlier. Financial records unearthed during the sale of the club to the Todd Boehley-led consortium - forced on Abramovich by the Government after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - suggested that Abramovich has sanctioned off-book payments to complete the signings.
The sums involved were not disclosed to any authorities - meaning that Chelsea effectively sidestepped financial fair play scrutiny at the time. Chelsea appear to have successfully argued that the breaches would not have emerged if it had not been for the due diligence process surrounding the sale.
