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Football Law

@footballlaw.co.uk
545 followers 71 following 343 posts

Your go-to resource for overviews of football’s institutions and procedures, and analysis of the latest football law news and decisions. Created and operated by Thomas Horton, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers. www.footballlaw.co.uk

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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 42m
Happy Manchester City Appeal Announcement Day! (I know nothing, but I think we’re all anticipating it.) PL Rules, r. W.86 provides Standard Appeal Directions that would ordinarily see, inter alia, an appeal concluded within 12 weeks of being made. However, those directions can be varied (W.85).
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13h
🚨 The Manchester City decision explained. 💰 Disguised funding 📊 Misstated accounts ⚖️ Financial rule breaches 🚫 Non-cooperation ❓ And now, sanction? Football Law's article examines the Premier League Commission’s Core Decision and what could happen next 👇 www.footballlaw.co.uk/articles/-ma...
footballlaw.co.uk
Sham City — Football Law
On 29 September 2026, the Premier League announced that a PL Commission had found 114 of the 115 charges brought against Manchester City FC proved. This article explains the PL Commission’s findings a...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13h
🚨 The Manchester City decision explained. 💰 Disguised funding 📊 Misstated accounts ⚖️ Financial rule breaches 🚫 Non-cooperation ❓ And now, sanction? Football Law's article examines the Premier League Commission’s Core Decision and what could happen next 👇 www.footballlaw.co.uk/articles/-ma...
footballlaw.co.uk
Sham City — Football Law
On 29 September 2026, the Premier League announced that a PL Commission had found 114 of the 115 charges brought against Manchester City FC proved. This article explains the PL Commission’s findings a...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🎙️ A pod about the player-release payments to clubs from the Nations League & European Football Clubs’ governance reforms. Nah, only kidding. It’s about Man City, Soriano, the sham deals, what next…all the good stuff. pod.fo/e/66ed5f
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Explaining Man City's £900m 'sham' finances
Manchester City have been found guilty of artificially inflating their revenues and reducing costs via "sham payments" in the verdict reached by an independent regulatory commission investigating t...
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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
We’ve a report coming out soon on the civil and criminal tax implications of the Manchester City shenanigans. To catch it first you can subscribe to our free newsletter buff.ly/QEAHmgK
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 29/09/2026
We can see that - amongst other things - City will be sanctioned for three PSR breaches (subject to any appeal of course).
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Chris Weatherspoon @cweatherspoon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
#MCFC reported pre-tax result across first three years Premier League PSR was fully assessed, spanning 2015-16 to 2017-18: £30.1m profit With ADUG 'tagged sums' removed: £354.4m loss
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 29/09/2026
Confirmation from the Premier League on the outcome of the 115 charges against #MCFC. ‘An independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period
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David Ornstein @david-ornstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
nytimes.com
Manchester City found guilty on almost all Premier League charges relating to financial breaches
City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023.
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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Aston Villa's appeal to register Brian Madjo has been accepted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS took into account several factors involving Madjo's case. 17yo thought very highly with Emery keen to include him in his squad for competitive matches. @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
nytimes.com
Aston Villa’s appeal to register Brian Madjo accepted by CAS
The new ruling means Madjo can play in the club's matches and soon make his first competitive appearances for Villa.
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Alexander Abnos @anabnos.com · 05/07/2026
The Guardian understands that the White House did lobby Fifa to rescind Folarin Balogun's one-game ban v Belgium: www.theguardian.com/football/202...
theguardian.com
White House lobbied Fifa to lift Folarin Balogun suspension for World Cup game v Belgium
The US striker was shown red in the team’s last-32 match, but the card and its suspension were thought to not be eligible for appeal.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/07/2026
RBFA are *not* happy about FIFA’s Balogun decision, and quite rightly.
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Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
FIFA making the rules up as they go along. Whatever you think of the red card Balogun got, FIFA has upheld the red card but instead of a mandatory one match ban, he gets a probationary period. Following rule changes that allowed Ronaldo to swerve ban at the start of the tournament. Ridiculous.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 16/06/2026
'Burnley have won a landmark legal case against Everton [...], with the Merseysiders ordered to pay nearly £40m in compensation'. Guardian: www.theguardian.com/football/202... BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba... Written reasons: resources.premierleague.pulselive.com/premierleagu...
theguardian.com
Everton ordered to pay Burnley nearly £40m in Premier League relegation legal case
Burnley have won their landmark legal case against Everton for breaching Premier League financial rules in a season the Clarets went down
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 16/06/2026
FIFA release RSTP 2027 edition (in force from 1 January 2027) following Diarra decision. Available here: digitalhub.fifa.com/asset/e495d0... FIFA Bureau of the Council statement is here: inside.fifa.com/transfer-sys... Video / summary of main changes available here: inside.fifa.com/transfer-sys...
inside.fifa.com
Bureau of the Council approves new regulatory framework for the global football transfer system
New framework adopted following landmark agreement with key stakeholders, including player representatives (FIFPRO), clubs (EFC) and leagues (WLA), and with the participation of the confederations.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 16/06/2026
Lassana Diarra settles with FIFA and Belgian FA after landmark transfer case. www.theguardian.com/football/202...
theguardian.com
Lassana Diarra settles with Fifa and Belgian FA after landmark transfer case
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder wanted €65m from Fifa and the Belgian FA after he was denied a transfer to Charleroi in 2014
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 19/05/2026
‘An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs after the Club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other Clubs’ training.’ 4-point deduction too. Ouch. efl.com/news/2026/ma...
efl.com
EFL Statement: Southampton Football Club
The Official home of the English Football League
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Mark O'Neill @moneill94.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
1/ The EFL Championship play-offs have been rocked by “Spygate 2.0”. Southampton FC have been expelled from the play-offs, with Middlesbrough reinstated to face Hull City in the final. A major integrity case in modern English football. ⚖️
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 18/05/2026
Very fortunate to be going to the Europa League Final this Wednesday in Istanbul. Promises to be an amazing match (both teams with great league results going into it). Not to get too superstitious, but the fact that my flight to Istanbul is TK1982 must be a good omen?! #AVFC #UTV #UEL
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 18/05/2026
'Championship Clubs have approved a new Squad Cost Rules (SCR) financial framework that will replace the current Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) rules from Season 2026/27'. League One and League Two SCMP also updated. www.efl.com/news/2026/ma...
efl.com
Championship and League One Clubs approve changes to financial control rules
The Official home of the English Football League
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 18/05/2026
Eagerly awaiting the decision in EFL v Southampton this week. EFL's statements so far: 1. Southampton charged on 8 May 2026: www.efl.com/news/2026/ma... 2. EFL confirms that the hearing before a Disciplinary Commission will take place on or before 19 May 2026: www.efl.com/news/2026/ma...
efl.com
EFL Statement: Southampton Football Club
The Official home of the English Football League
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 06/05/2026
🚨🗞️ New article The Hounding of the Foxes 🦊 #LCFC sanctioned with a six-point deduction for breach of the EFL PSR. 🤔 How did the PL Commission arrive at that sanction? ⚽️ Is there any change to to the approach to sanction in such cases? #EFL #PL #PSR www.footballlaw.co.uk/articles/the...
footballlaw.co.uk
The Hounding of the Foxes — Football Law
On 5 February 2026 the Premier League (“PL”) and the English Football League (“EFL”) announced that a PL Commission had sanctioned Leicester City FC with an immediate six-point deduction for breach of...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 06/05/2026
🚨🗞️ New article The Hounding of the Foxes 🦊 #LCFC sanctioned with a six-point deduction for breach of the EFL PSR. 🤔 How did the PL Commission arrive at that sanction? ⚽️ Is there any change to to the approach to sanction in such cases? #EFL #PL #PSR www.footballlaw.co.uk/articles/the...
footballlaw.co.uk
The Hounding of the Foxes — Football Law
On 5 February 2026 the Premier League (“PL”) and the English Football League (“EFL”) announced that a PL Commission had sanctioned Leicester City FC with an immediate six-point deduction for breach of...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/05/2026
🗞️ New article ⚽ The Hounding of the Foxes 🦊 #LCFC sanctioned with a six-point deduction for breach of the EFL PSR. 🦊 How did the PL Commission arrive at that sanction? 🦊 Is there any change to to the approach to sanction in such cases? #EFL #PL #PSR www.footballlaw.co.uk/articles/the...
footballlaw.co.uk
The Hounding of the Foxes — Football Law
On 5 February 2026 the Premier League (“PL”) and the English Football League (“EFL”) announced that a PL Commission had sanctioned Leicester City FC with an immediate six-point deduction for breach of...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/05/2026
FIFA publish Regulatory Guidelines Armed Conflicts for ‘general regulatory considerations that are not, per se, limited to the situation in the Middle East. Rather, they provide general guidance concerning the contractual rights of parties affected […]’. digitalhub.fifa.com/asset/05b29f...
digitalhub.fifa.com
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/05/2026
Useful collation of recent cases concerning hair pulling. I think it's unquestionably right that hair pulling is a sending-off offence, and there's a risk that if you make value judgment of what is or is not hair pulling, then it risks undermining the law. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
bbc.co.uk
Hair pulling in football: Three red cards for hair pulls in 2026 - does law need changing?
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard becomes the third player to be sent off for pulling an opponent's hair in the Premier League this season. Is it time to change the law?
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/05/2026
#CFC's Mykhailo Mudryk makes appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against four-year ban for breach of the FA's Anti-Doping Regulations. www.theguardian.com/football/202...
theguardian.com
Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk appeals to Cas against reported four-year ban
Mykhailo Mudryk has appealed to the court of arbitration for sport after he received a reported four-year playing ban from the FA for the use of a banned substance
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/05/2026
Great news that #SWFC's administrators have completed a sale of the club, with SWFC therefore avoiding any further points deduction at the start of the 2026/27 season. EFL statement here: www.efl.com/news/2026/ma... SWFC statement here: www.swfc.co.uk/news/2026/ma...
efl.com
EFL Statement: Sheffield Wednesday under new ownership
The Official home of the English Football League
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/05/2026
🗞️ New article ⚽ The Hounding of the Foxes 🦊 #LCFC sanctioned with a six-point deduction for breach of the EFL PSR. 🦊 How did the PL Commission arrive at that sanction? 🦊 Is there any change to to the approach to sanction in such cases? #EFL #PL #PSR www.footballlaw.co.uk/articles/the...
footballlaw.co.uk
The Hounding of the Foxes — Football Law
On 5 February 2026 the Premier League (“PL”) and the English Football League (“EFL”) announced that a PL Commission had sanctioned Leicester City FC with an immediate six-point deduction for breach of...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 29/04/2026
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni sanctioned with a six-match ban (three of those matches suspended for two years) following use of discriminatory language against Vini Jr. in Benfica's #UCL match against Real Madrid on 17.2.2026.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 15/04/2026
An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a one-match suspension and £30,000 fine on Manchester United FC’s Harry Maguire. #MUFC Written reasons available here: www.thefa.com/-/media/file...
thefa.com
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
West Bromwich Albion FC reportedly charged for a breach of the EFL's Profitability and Sustainability Rules. No official announcement from the EFL yet, but #WBA's statement on the matter is available here: wba.co.uk/news/club-st...
wba.co.uk
Club statement | West Bromwich Albion
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Millwall FC with an action plan, a £45,000 fine, and a warning following a breach of FA Rule E21 during its EFL League Cup fixture against Crystal Palace FC on Tuesday 16 September 2025. Written reasons here: www.thefa.com/news/2026/ma...
thefa.com
Millwall FC sanctioned
Millwall FC sanctioned
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
Cardiff City's claim for more than £100m in compensation following the death of footballer Emiliano Sala has been thrown out by a French judge. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Cardiff City damages claim over Emiliano Sala death dismissed
The club, which was claiming £104m in compensation, will now have to fork out about £400,000.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
#CFC sanctioned by the Premier League via a sanction agreement with fines totalling £10.75million for breaches of the PL's rules relating to Financial Reporting, Third Party Investment and Youth Development.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
A former owner of York City is suing the non-league football club over an alleged breach of contract. Jason McGill joined the club, which plays in the National League, as a director in 2003, before serving as chairman from 2008 to 2022.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
Major League Soccer has given lifetime bans to midfielder Derrick Jones and winger Yaw Yeboah for betting offences. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba... www.mlssoccer.com/news/derrick...
bbc.co.uk
MLS gives lifetime bans to midfielder Derrick Jones and winger Yaw Yeboah for betting offences
Major League Soccer gives lifetime bans to midfielder Derrick Jones and winger Yaw Yeboah for betting offences.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
Rodri sanctioned with an £80,000 fine following his comments after #MCFC's match against #THFC on 1.2.2026, where he said 'We won too much and the people, they don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. And for me, honestly, it’s not fair, it’s not fair'. www.thefa.com/news/2026/ma...
thefa.com
Rodri sanctioned
Manchester City FC's Rodri sanctioned
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
#AVFC's Emiliano Martinez Emiliano may face disciplinary action from the FA after appearing in promotional content for an Argentine betting company. sports.yahoo.com/articles/fa-...
sports.yahoo.com
FA open investigation into Aston Villa star over betting promotion
Goalkeeper could face disciplinary actionFA open investigation into Aston Villa star over betting promotionAston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could face FA action after promoting Argentine betti...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
Brian Madjo's transfer to #AVFC affected by FIFA rules in respect of foreign players under 18 years old. The player's registration remains incomplete. www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/footba... www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-...
birminghammail.co.uk
Aston Villa have £10m 'powerhouse' to unleash as wait finally over
Aston Villa's January recruit Brian Madjo impressed in the friendly defeat to Elche in Spain last week
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
Manchester United FC's Jack Fletcher was sanctioned with a fine and a 6-match ban on 4.2.2026 following use of a discriminatory word whilst representing the #MUFC Academy in a fixture against Barnsley’s first team in October 2025. Written reasons here: www.thefa.com/-/media/file...
thefa.com
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 13/04/2026
Farewell to the European Super League. This agreement of principles will also serve to resolve their legal disputes related to the European Super League, once such principles are executed and implemented. www.uefa.com/news-media/n...
uefa.com
UEFA, European Football Clubs and Real Madrid CF reach agreement for the good of European club football
This agreement of principles will also serve to resolve their legal disputes related to the European Super League, once such principles are executed and implemented.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 05/02/2026
Leicester City FC sanctioned with a six-point deduction for breaching the Profit & Sustainability Rules in the three-year reporting period ending with Season 2023/24. #EFL #LCFC efl.com/news/2026/fe...
efl.com
Premier League Commission - Leicester City Football Club
The Official home of the English Football League
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David Ornstein @david-ornstein.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
🚨 EXCL: Liverpool to pay max £6.8m for signing of Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea. Tribunal rules #LFC owe #CFC initial £2.8m + £4m in potential bonuses relating to senior appearances, contracts, England honours. Also 20% of profit on future sale 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
nytimes.com
Liverpool to pay at least £2.8m for Rio Ngumoha after Chelsea compensation decided
The fee, which has been decided by a tribunal, could rise by a further £4m for the 17-year-old.
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 03/02/2026
CAF announces sanctions imposed on Senegal and Morocco following the events during the AFCON final: www.cafonline.com/news/caf-dis...
cafonline.com
CAF Disciplinary Board imposes sanctions on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)
CAF Disciplinary Board imposes sanctions on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) and certain players and officials for the incidents during ...
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 02/02/2026
I have written a 2-part article for Law In Sport looking at the CAS's recent decisions involving Drogheda United FC's, FK DAC's and Crystal Palace FC's breaches of UEFA's multi-club ownership rule ahead of the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions. The article is available by the links below:
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 02/02/2026
I have written a 2-part article for Law In Sport looking at the CAS's recent decisions involving Drogheda United FC's, FK DAC's and Crystal Palace FC's breaches of UEFA's multi-club ownership rule ahead of the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions. The article is available by the links below:
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Sam Cunningham @samcunningham.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Exclusive: The FA has written to Crystal Palace and Macclesfield to stop the Premier League side from handing their share of FA Cup gate receipts to the non-League club. Full story @thetimes.com 👇
thetimes.com
Crystal Palace blocked by FA from giving Macclesfield cup-tie ticket money
Premier League club offered to give their share of ticket sales for FA Cup third-round tie to National League North side but FA says it is against competition rules
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 29/01/2026
Aston Villa FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC each sanctioned with a £125,000 fine following a mass confrontation at the end of their FA Cup match on 10 January 2026. Regulatory Commission's written reasons available here: www.thefa.com/-/media/file...
thefa.com
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Football Law @footballlaw.co.uk · 29/01/2026
Chelsea FC sanctioned with a £150,000 fine for a bottle thrown by a member of CFC’s bench / team during CFC’s match against Aston Villa on 27.12.2025. Regulatory Commission's written reasons are available here: www.thefa.com/-/media/file...
thefa.com
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