Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has described Chelsea as “bigger and worse offenders” than Manchester City over financial breaches, arguing that the Blues have escaped the level of public criticism directed at the Premier League champions.
Jordan made the comments while discussing the financial violations committed during Chelsea’s former owner Roman Abramovich’s tenure, which began in 2003 and saw the club win 21 major trophies.
The debate has resurfaced following the Premier League’s ruling that Manchester City were guilty of 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them. City deny the allegations and are appealing the verdict.
Chelsea’s own financial breaches came into focus after the club’s current BlueCo ownership self-reported £47.5m in undisclosed payments made through third parties for the club’s benefit between 2011 and 2018.
The payments reportedly involved scouts, executives and transfers for players including Eden Hazard, Willian and Nemanja Matic.
The breaches resulted in a £10.75m fine and a suspended one-year transfer ban earlier this year. Chelsea also received an immediate nine-month academy embargo and a £750,000 penalty over separate youth registration breaches.
Speaking on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored, Jordan questioned why Chelsea had not faced the same level of public anger as Manchester City.
“If you believe in fairness and Man City’s team have been assembled in an unfair way, but the interesting thing for me is that if you introduce unjust rules – don’t be surprised when people behave unjustly,” Jordan stated.
“Why isn’t there real rage about Chelsea? Chelsea were allowed to do what Man City were never allowed to do and yet, six years after they were allowed into the room, they still cheated.
“So Chelsea got in the room, got to spend what they want, Man City come along and then people went ‘no, you can’t come in, we’re going to shut the door now’.”
Jordan argued that the difference between the clubs lay in the timing of their rise to financial power, noting that Chelsea had already established themselves before stricter spending regulations were introduced.
He maintained that the club continued to breach financial rules years after securing their place among the Premier League’s leading spenders.
“But Chelsea were already in that room and five years later, they’re still cheating,” Jordan continued.
“So Chelsea actually are bigger offender and worse offenders than Man City.
“Because Man City weren’t ever allowed to be in the room and they’ve had to cheat to get in the room.
“So when you think about it in those terms, start getting some ire about Chelsea as well.”
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Despite the breaches, the Premier League determined that Chelsea would have complied with its Profitability and Sustainability Rules even if the third-party payments had been officially declared.
The club’s decision to report the payments voluntarily and cooperate with the investigation also reduced the severity of the eventual sanctions.
Manchester City are meanwhile pursuing an appeal against the independent commission’s verdict.
The outcome could determine the severity of any punishment and have wider implications for financial regulation in English football.
Chelsea, on their part, face the prospect of activating their suspended first-team transfer ban if they breach the relevant conditions.
With the historical breaches from the Abramovich era settled by the league, the club must maintain financial compliance to avoid further sanctions.
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