Chelsea
March 2026

Chelsea’s punishment for historic secret payments has triggered anger across rival clubs and fanbases after the club avoided a points deduction. Instead, the Premier League issued a record £10.75 million fine and a suspended first-team transfer ban, a result many critics view as too lenient. The league said Chelsea’s self-reporting, admissions and exceptional cooperation counted heavily in mitigation after breaches linked to the Abramovich era. Reuters and other reports say Everton supporters are now planning a protest, while finance expert Kieran Maguire has highlighted the contrast with previous punishments handed to Everton and Nottingham Forest.