Chelsea are set to face further scrutiny from the Premier League over reports of payments connected to the club’s former owner Roman Abramovich.
The Guardian has reported that Abramovich, a Russian billionaire who owned the club for 19 years until he was sanctioned by the British Government last year, used offshore companies to make payments which appear to have been for the club’s benefit.
The Premier League is already investigating the club after their new owners became aware of “potentially incomplete financial reporting” linked to the Abramovich era while completing their due diligence as part of the takeover and self-reported the information they discovered to the league and other regulators.
The Premier League has not commented on Wednesday’s report, but it is likely it will now look closely at the information 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.”
Chelsea’s stance under their new owners has been consistent – to examine any allegations of impropriety under the previous ownership as soon as they become aware of them.
Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and invested millions as the club enjoyed unprecedented success, including Champions League victories in 2012 and 2021 as well as five Premier League titles.
He was forced to sell the club last year after his assets were frozen by the Government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The FA has confirmed it is investigating, although it is unclear at this stage whether its investigation relates to the information Chelsea self-reported or the new allegations reported by the Guardian.
Chelsea entered into a 10 million euro (£8.7million) settlement with UEFA after also self-reporting the information which came to light during the 2022 takeover to European football’s governing body.
CONCACAF President to visit Jamaica next week
President of the governing body of football in the region, CONCACAF, Victor Montagliani, will be visiting Jamaica starting Wednesday October 16, 2024 for two days.
On his visit to Jamaica he will meet with the President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Michael Ricketts, the Prime Minister of Jamaica The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, and also the Minister of Sport, The Honorable Olivia Grange.
Montagliani will also watch some matches in the Jamaica Premier League.
“We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani to Jamaica. This is a momentous moment for us,” Ricketts said.
“The last time he was here was for the FIFA Football Summit in Montego Bay in 2018. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with CONCACAF,” he added.
JPL outfit Dunbeholden FC partnering with Dinthill Technical High School to provide counselling to players involved in fracas with match official
In an unfortunate event this September, two players from Dinthill Technical High School were banned from taking part in any Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) competition for one year, while a third was suspended for three games following an incident involving match officials at the end of a daCosta Cup match against McGrath High.
Reports stated that players were involved in a confrontation with the referee after the game, and it was alleged one of them physically assaulted the official.
Maalick Whyte and Shamair Hutchinson have both been banned from participating in any ISSA-run competitions for one-year, effective September 26, 2024, while Tyrese Gowe, was hit with the three-match suspension.
The Linstead-based school was also placed on a three-year probation and faces the possibility of suspension should its players breach the disciplinary code of conduct within the period of probation.
This incident also led to the Jamaica Referees Association members taking strike action, resulting in the postponement of matches across both the Manning and Dacosta Cup competitions.
Jamaica Premier League outfit Dunbeholden FC, club of Tyrese Gowe, is one of the groups trying to find ways to prevent this from happening again and have acted through their partnership with Counsellors Corner.
“The Management of the Dunbeholden Football Club thought it prudent to get involved in finding solutions and ways to help student athletes to becoming future stars and role models for their peers," the club said in a statement on Friday.
“Dunbeholden Football Club does not condone such behaviors in any way and, while we sympathize with the Dinthill family, we, through our partnership with Counsellors Corner will be partnering with Dinthill Technical High School to offer counselling to the students involved and also other student athletes as well as the wider school community,” it continued.
The club also announced that they are in the process of partnering with other schools, churches and companies in St. Catherine to try and decrease incidents of this nature from happening again.
Bielsa takes responsibility for misfiring display in shock Peru defeat
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa shouldered full responsibility for his side's shock 1-0 defeat to Peru in their World Cup qualifying encounter.
Peru, winless in their previous nine matches, stole the points in the 88th minute when Miguel Araujo headed Piero Quispe's cross beyond the grasp of Sergio Rochet.
The Blanquirroja earned their first win over Uruguay since 2017, with the triumph moving them above last-placed Chile following their late defeat to Brazil.
Uruguay had a string of chances to take the lead in the first half, with Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte coming closest.
But the Peruvians started brightly after the interval, with Edison Flores unable to guide his effort on target before Sergio Pena rippled the side-netting on the hour-mark.
With the match appearing to end all square, the Estadio Nacional de Lima was sent into raptures when Araujo was picked out to seal a memorable triumph for the hosts, powering home his first international goal.
Uruguay managed an expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.36 compared to Peru's 0.78, recording eight efforts with only three of those on target.
Despite dominating possession throughout the contest, Bielsa acknowledged that his game plan restricted his players from making a difference in the final third.
“I honestly feel responsible," Bielsa said.
"Due to the players we had in the midfield and in the offence, for such a small proportion of goal chances we created in the second half."
Uruguay's defeat sees them remain in third place in the qualifying standings, four points behind leaders Argentina.
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