CHELSEA face a heavy fine and possible points deductions from a Premier League investigation into financial affairs during the Roman Abramovich era.
Uefa last month announced the Blues had been fined £8.6m under new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake after the club reported a number of financial transactions between 2012 and 2019.
It has now emerged that the scrutiny uncovered payments adding up to millions of pounds to offshore companies.
And while Uefa’s punishment was the end of the matter for Nyon chiefs, a full Prem probe is now under way with serious punishment potentially down the line.
Among the payments covered by the inquiry include at least one to a player’s family.
Uefa’s statement confirming the punishment declared it was for “instances of potentially incomplete financial reporting” under the previous ownership.
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It is understood that payments to as many as six offshore companies, linked to player transfers, are now being investigated with the belief that they were not registered with the FA, Prem or Uefa.
In 2018 the “Football Leaks” document dump suggested Chelsea had paid Sten Christensen, father of Danish defender Andreas, more than £656,000 over four years as a “scout” following the player’s 2012 arrival from Brondby.
Chelsea and the Premier League declined to comment.
Boehly and Clearlake took over the club in May last year after Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.
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The new ownership has so far spent £768.7million on transfers since taking over – with a particular emphasis on signing young players with a high upside.
It is unclear yet how, or indeed whether Premier League sanctions will affect Chelsea’s ability to further splash the cash this summer.
Their latest signing, centre-back Axel Disasi arrived from Monaco for £38.7m last week.
The off-field news will come as a further blow for Chelsea fans after new-signing Christopher Nkunku was ruled out for three months with a knee injury.
The forward has thoroughly impressed in pre-season and was looking set to be a talisman for Mauricio Pochettino’s young squad.
The Blues will kick off their Premier League season at home to Liverpool this Sunday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
