🗞️ Daily Digest: Chelsea face FFP scrutiny, Man Utd CEO steps down | OneFootball

The five biggest stories of the day but so much more digestible, so you know everything you need to.

1️⃣ Chelsea face fresh FFP scrutiny

Chelsea are being investigated regarding alleged secret payments made during the Roman Abramovich era. The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reveal offshore transactions of millions of pounds, allegedly omitted from annual accounts. The payments, spanning a decade, involved agents, players’ representatives, other club chairmen and a Chelsea staff member. The leak, known as ‘Cyprus Confidential’, questions whether Chelsea violated Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, potentially influencing their success. If found guilty, the club could face a Premier League points deduction.

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2️⃣ Manchester United CEO steps down

Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold has left the club with immediate effect. Patrick Stewart, the current general counsel, will take over temporarily to provide transitional support while the club’s owners finalise a £1.25 billion minority stake sale to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group. Arnold’s two-year Old Trafford tenure included on-field success, securing the Carabao Cup, and negotiating significant commercial deals with Adidas and Qualcomm. The interim CEO, Stewart, assumes a pivotal role as the club prepares for a new era under Ratcliffe’s ownership.

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3️⃣ Manchester City post record revenue amid Premier League investigation

Manchester City, posting a record £712.8m revenue, have acknowledged that the Premier League charges hanging over them may have a “material impact” on the club in the future. The club’s Champions League-winning run contributed to a broadcast revenue of £341.4m, with £113.85m from UEFA alone. The annual report cites 115 charges issued by the Premier League in February as a potential risk. While introductory statements omit reference to charges, the report notes risks from regulatory changes and team performance. Despite a profit from player trading and matchday revenue of £71.9m, total payroll costs increased to just under £423m, up from £354m in 2022, with a reduced headcount.

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4️⃣ Union Berlin part company with coach Urs Fischer

Union Berlin have parted ways with head coach Urs Fischer due to a disappointing run of 13 defeats in their last 14 matches. Fischer, who led the club to Bundesliga promotion in 2018, also guided them to qualification for the Europa Conference, Europa League, and Champions League in consecutive seasons. However, with Union at the bottom of the Bundesliga table after nine straight defeats, the decision to part with Fischer was made. Union’s under-19 coach Marco Grote will take over first-team matters on an interim basis. Union president Dirk Zingler has expressed sadness and acknowledged Fischer’s contribution.

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5️⃣ Newcastle dealt double injury blow

Newcastle United’s injury crisis has deepened, with striker Callum Wilson sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring issue, and defender Sven Botman potentially out until February due to a potential knee operation. The club, already grappling with multiple injuries, including Sean Longstaff’s ankle issue and Harvey Barnes’s absence for at least a month, face a challenging schedule. Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, and Matt Targett are set to return in 2024. While Alexander Isak is expected to return after the international break, Miguel Almirón’s muscle injury is not thought to be severe. The Magpies are expected to be without key players when they face Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham and Milan in the coming weeks.

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