The charges, which cover the period between 2009 and 2022, primarily concern the time when Roman Abramovich owned the west London club.
They are linked to breaches of regulations involving agents, intermediaries, and third-party ownership of players. The FA confirmed that Chelsea must formally respond to the allegations by September 19, 2025.
A precedent exists for harsh punishment. In 2008, Luton Town were stripped of 10 points for similar breaches involving payments to agents.
If the same approach is applied, Chelsea could be docked enough points to drop them from second place in the Premier League to the bottom of the table.
The situation is complicated by the club’s change of ownership in 2022. American businessman Todd Boehly’s consortium acquired Chelsea after Abramovich’s forced exit.
During the takeover process, the new ownership reportedly uncovered irregularities in historical financial reporting and chose to alert regulators.
In a statement, Chelsea said the club had shown “unprecedented transparency” while cooperating with the FA’s investigation.
Possible sanctions include fines, a transfer ban, or a deduction that could alter the course of their season.
Manager Enzo Maresca’s unbeaten side currently sits near the top of the standings, but a severe penalty would plunge them into immediate crisis.
Chelsea return to league action this weekend with a derby clash against Brentford, but off-field developments are likely to overshadow events on the pitch in the coming months.