**Chelsea's Sokoto: Was the Fine too Lenient?** The English Premier League has finally come down on Chelsea FC with a record £10 million fine for their catalogue of secret payments between 2011 and 2018. The payments, totaling over £47 million, involved some of the world's best players, including Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, and David Luiz, who helped the club win eight major trophies during that period. The Premier League has stated that the factors considered when deciding on a punishment for Chelsea involved "punishing the club, vindicating those clubs that complied with the rules, deterring breaches, and preserving public confidence in the fairness of the competition." However, many are questioning whether a £10 million fine is sufficient for one of English football's most serious cheating scandals. The league acknowledges that the cheating involved "obvious and deliberate breaches of the rules, deception, and concealment in financial matters," with the knowledge and approval of some of Chelsea's senior former officers and directors. The wrongdoing had a significant impact on the sporting landscape, as some of the payments were made to unlicensed agents and third-party individuals linked to Chelsea's former owner, Roman Abramovich. It's worth noting that the signings of these influential players were made possible by the secret payments, which could have been made to other clubs instead. This raises questions about whether Chelsea's success during that period was entirely fair and just. By avoiding a sporting sanction, such as a points deduction, the Premier League may have failed to properly punish Chelsea for their transgressions. The case serves as a reminder that football is not just a game of skill and talent, but also one of rules and regulations. While a £10 million fine may seem like a significant punishment, it's hard to ignore the fact that Chelsea's cheating had a profound impact on the sport. As Nigeria's own football league, the NPFL, continues to grow and mature, the need for strict adherence to rules and regulations becomes increasingly important.