‘Chelsea rivals will demand points deduction’ after new ‘bombshell’
Chelsea are no strangers to controversy in the Premier League and are in hot water with their rivals yet again with another probe launched into their historic conduct.
During BlueCo’s takeover of Chelsea, the US investors discovered “incomplete financial information” had been submitted to the football authorities between 2012 and 2019 – and paid a seven-figure sum to Uefa, while they continue to negotiate a settlement with the Premier League.
But in a new bombshell, The Times reported on 24 April that Man United missed out on signing Eden Hazard in 2012 after they refused to pay his agent, John Bico, a secret multi-million-pound payment – which would have breached the Premier League and Uefa’s rules.
The report said a Premier League investigation is continuing into allegations an offshore company belonging to Abramovich made a £6million payment to Bico in 2013.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has insisted Chelsea’s rivals will be pushing for them to receive a points deduction after the bombshell news.
Chelsea ‘have to face sporting sanctions’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Chelsea – who have already paid a £8.7million settlement to Uefa for submitting incomplete financial records under Roman Abramovich’s ownership – now have to face sporting sanctions.
Points deductions were dished out to Everton and Nottingham Forest in the 2023-24 campaign for breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Wyness insisted rivals will “almost demand” Chelsea are hit with a severe punishment.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 3 | Newcastle | 34 | 62 | 21 |
| 4 | Man City | 34 | 61 | 23 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 34 | 60 | 19 |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 33 | 60 | 14 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 34 | 57 | 5 |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “This could be a bit of a bombshell.
“We know that when Boehly took over, they found some payments during due diligence that they thought were suspect.
“They admitted those to the Premier League and there was a financial settlement.
“However, these new payments implicate Marina Granovskaia, who was Abramovich’s close ally, and Bruce Buck.
“It seems to go a lot wider than just players and agents.
“It’s difficult to say that Boehly and Clearlake should suffer another financial punishment, because this time I think there are going to have to be sporting sanctions.
“Other clubs in the Premier League are almost going to demand that points deductions come into play for Chelsea this time around.”
‘Chelsea lead Liverpool in Gittens race’
Meanwhile, industry expert Mick Brown has told Football Insider (28 April) that Chelsea have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens in the summer transfer window.
Gittens is widely expected to return to the Premier League this summer for the first time since leaving Man City in 2020.
The Dortmund star has hit 12 goals and notched five assists in all competitions this season.
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