LONDON: The Roman Abramovich legacy is still catching up with Chelsea after a report in The Guardian and other international media that the Russian oligarch used offshore companies to make transactions worth tens of millions of pounds to agents and associates for the club’s benefit in possible breach of financial fair play rules.

Abramovich owned Chelsea for 19 years until he sold out after being was sanctioned by the British government in 2022 over his links to Russia President Vladimir Putin.

The Football Association and Premier League are already investigating potential financial rule breaches by the club.

Chelsea were fined £8.6m by Uefa in July as part of a settlement for breaking Financial Fair Play rules as a result of “submitting incomplete financial information” between 2012 and 2019.

Those breaches were reported by the new Stamford Bridge ownership following the club’s sale to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital.

Both the FA and Premier League declined to comment while their investigations were ongoing. It is unclear at this stage whether their probes relate to the information Chelsea self-reported or whether these also include the new allegations reported by the Guardian.

A Chelsea spokesperson said: “These allegations pre-date the club’s current ownership. They are based on documents which the club has not been shown and do not relate to any individual who is presently at the club.”

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and invested millions over almost two decades as the club went on to win the Champions League in 2012 and 2021, as well as five Premier League titles.

Clubs can be fined and given a points deduction if they are found guilty of breaching financial rules.

Premier League champions Manchester City were charged with more than 100 breaches of financial rules in February. The club have denied financial wrongdoing.

In May, Everton were referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over an alleged breach of FFP rules. They have also denied wrongdoing.

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