In July 2023, Uefa fined Chelsea £8m over the same case. And the FA is expected to take similar action when it announces the conclusion of its disciplinary process into the affair in the coming weeks.
But there are clear signs that Chelsea feared it could have been worse. In 2024, it was revealed that owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali held back £150m of their purchase price for the club to cover potential fines relating to the Roman Abramovich era. So far this episode has cost the club about £18m.
Some of their rivals may feel that the cost to them may have been greater, in the form of trophies and prize money they could potentially have won. And also to the integrity and credibility of a competition that relies on everyone following the rules.
There is one other significant subplot that is emerging. Chelsea's punishment relates to rule breaches in the 2010s. The Manchester City case also covers this period. Between them the two clubs won six Premier Leagues in that decade.
What do these cases say about the football – and the titles won – in that era?
Only time will tell as all eyes again fall on the City case verdict.
Honours in the period covered by the report:
Premier League winners: 2014-15 and 2016-17
FA Cup winners: 2011-12, 2017-18
League Cup winners: 2014-15
Champions League winners: 2011-12
Europa League winners: 2012-13, 2018-19
Read more on Chelsea’s fine and whether the punishment was too lenient
