Mudryk is back
Mykhailo Mudryk can play again. His doping case has been settled and the ban lifted, more than two years before it was due to expire (1)(5)(6). Chelsea confirmed the resolution on Friday, saying everyone at the club is now focused on getting Mudryk back to full fitness and into the squad (1). He is expected to join preseason in Hong Kong immediately (3).
£10m fine and a suspended transfer ban
Chelsea admitted to 74 breaches of FA agent rules and got hit with a £10 million fine plus a suspended two-window transfer ban (2)(4). The FA also handed down a suspended six-point deduction, which an independent Appeal Board overturned and replaced with the suspended registration ban, valid until June 30, 2027 (4). If Chelsea breach again, the ban triggers.
Palmer slept through England
Cole Palmer, omitted from Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad, said he tried to watch England beat Mexico but fell asleep at half-time (7). He shrugged it off: travelling in the US with time zones all over the place made it hard. Palmer added that missing out has given him motivation (7).
Fan reactions
Relief dominates. Chelsea supporters on Reddit are overwhelmingly focused on the Mudryk news, with the official club statement thread drawing emotional responses about the winger's long road back. The FA sanctions thread is more divided, some fans are calling the suspended ban a lucky escape, others are digging into the 74 admitted breaches. Read the Mudryk thread or the FA fine discussion.
