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Can you make a case for Chelsea being stripped of 2016-17 title?

September 10, 2026 13:55

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Can you make a case for Chelsea being stripped of 2016-17 title?
WHAT HAPPENED
Mauricio Pochettino has argued that Tottenham should be retrospectively declared Premier League champions for 2016-17 after a Premier League probe reported that Chelsea made secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties during transfers between 2011 and 2018. The inquiry says about £47m was paid in this way for a number of signings.

The players named in the investigation include Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Willian, Ramires, David Luiz, Andre Schurrle and Nemanja Matic; four of those — Hazard, Willian, Luiz and Matic — were members of Chelsea’s title-winning squad in 2016-17. Chelsea have already been fined by UEFA, the Premier League and the FA, but Pochettino and some supporters feel monetary penalties are insufficient.

KEY CONTEXT
The Premier League investigation covers transfers over a seven-year span and identifies a variety of undisclosed payments.