Chelsea's hierarchy will be hopeful that they can avoid any financial ruling concerns that have appeared amidst the Premier League's landmark case with Everton. The Toffees were the second team this year to be sent to an independent panel in relation to alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
The hearing took place in October with the decision coming in mid-November that they would be deduced ten points with immediate effect. Given the scale of such a punishment, which is still subject to an appeal, it has naturally led to conversations surrounding other clubs in the division.
Manchester City are one of those after they were charged with an alleged 115 breaches of rules dating from 2009 to 2018, coming as a considerably larger number compared to Everton. They will have to go through an independent panel too before there can be any outcome though.
Then there's the case of Chelsea, who haven't been charged with anything but there continues to be rumblings in the background surrounding the previous ownership regime. Recent reports have accused Roman Abramovich of making payments off of the books, in theory circumventing the financial rules.
It remains to be seen what will be made of that case, should it reach the stage of the club being charged and sent to an independent panel. However, it has naturally brought about fears surrounding potential points deductions and possible relegation in the near future.
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If that were to be the case, then the new ownership regime will be feeling the brunt of the former in a huge blow to their investment. The reality is that relegation would bring about cuts to the squad to comply with regulations in the division below, where income is far less due to TV revenue being worth less.
That could prompt a fire sale of players, ones that were specifically signed and scouted to be part of a wider plan to land the most promising youngsters on long-term deals and developing them into the best in the world. If they were to lose them, then Todd Boehly's plan will have taken a severe hit early on, with time needed to reach the level they are currently at.
It remains to be seen what the outcome of this case may be, but for Chelsea the potential of relegation is a scary reality that could await.
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