Premier League braced for battle with Chelsea over potential breach of financial rules – with club preparing to cite Antonio Rudiger’s exit as one reason for their huge £121m losses
- Chelsea have reported losses of £121 million across the 2021/22 season
- They were barred from receiving revenue for over two months from March 10
- However, the majority of their income for the season had already been banked
Chelsea are set for a battle with the Premier League over a potential breach of spending rules with the club ready to cite Antonio Rudiger’s departure for Real Madrid on a free transfer last season as one justification for their huge losses.
In reporting a loss of £121million for the 2021-22 season Chelsea cited ‘extraordinary expenses and loss of revenue’ when working under a government licence last year, but sources have told Sportsmail that the restrictions only cost the club a few million pounds.
Chelsea were barred from receiving revenue by the government after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned on 10 March last year until the Todd Boehly takeover was completed on May 28, but the vast majority of their income for the season had already been banked by that point.
Premier League central funding, television fees, season-ticket and corporate hospitality revenue had all been paid by that point, although the club did lose out by being unable to sell merchandise, programmes and match-day food and drink.
Chelsea were also unable to negotiate any new commercial deals or player contracts during that three-month period however, with the club ready to cite the collapse of contract negotiations with Rudiger as a potential loss of income if charged with breaching profit and sustainability rules.
Chelsea have reported losses of £121 million for the 2021-22 season and cited extraordinary expenses and loss of revenue’ when working under a government licence last year
The club are expected to name their inability to offer Anthony Rudiger (pictured in action for Real Madrid) a new contract as a justification for their huge losses
The accounts published this week take the club’s losses over the Premier League’s rolling three-year period to £241.9m – they made a profit of £32.5m in 2019-20 followed by a record loss of £153.4m…