Gm football fans. Route One here, the football newsletter that gets you through international break boredom.

Today’s briefing is a ~5 min read:

1. Chelsea point deduction incoming 🛬

2. Extra time: a must-watch Paul Merson clip 😂

3. The Becks of the Decks… Grealish takes up DJ’ing 🎶

Morning Brief 🗞️

CHELSEA POINT DEDUCTION INCOMING 🛬

Ahhh… international break.

A boring period for every football fan. But a nice time for club managers to recoup and take a break.

With Chelsea finally picking up form, Pochettino will be looking for some well-deserved rest after a difficult start.

Perhaps a few walks in the park. Or even a romantic weekend away with the Missus.

Well… not really.

His side could be facing the ultimate Premier League sanction: a points deduction for hidden payments during the Roman Abramovich era.

Not so relaxing after all… but what’s actually happening?

1/ The claim against Chelsea

The allegation is that offshore companies linked to the Russian billionaire made off-the-book payments.

These unrecorded payments allegedly helped Chelsea sign… Eden Hazard, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o.

It may have also helped with signing managers like Antonio Conte.

The Guadian reports the files reveal a series of payments worth tens of millions of pounds over the decade.

2/ But it’s not what you might think

Chelsea isn’t getting a telling-off because they were doing dodgy deals.

Rather, the lawmakers are concerned about a potential financial fair play breach.

Why? Because under FFP rules, clubs must provide full and transparent financial reports.

So… if Chelsea weren’t disclosing these payments, that wouldn’t be full or transparent. Got it?

And The Blues could, in theory, gain an unfair advantage.

3/ What’s next?

Well, Chelsea self-reported themselves.

This cooperation might dampen the damage done, and the Premier League is yet to charge the club with any potential breaches.

They’ve also got Manchester City and Everton ahead of them in the queue. Both of which have been charged by the League.

What’s more, the most recent example of a points deduction comes from Portsmouth. They were deducted nine points in March 2010 after becoming the first Premier League club to go into administration.

A points deduction is possible… but that was 13 years ago. Yes, 2010 was 13 years ago.

So… it’s rare. But that won’t mean Poch & co won’t be breaking a sweat.

EXTRA-TIME ⏱️

Paul Merson shouting at Mike Dean in the Sky Sports studio is box office. When we say box office, we mean hilarious. Merson concludes his rant with an impression of all the “scared” referees.

Throwback to when Jurgen Klopp enjoyed a translator’s erotic voice. Klopp becomes confused and aroused before asking the translator for an encore. A light-hearted clip which should fight off the international break blues.

To celebrate Paul Scholes's 49th birthday yesterday, here’s a two-minute passing compilation. Sit back and enjoy.

Do you remember when Nani ruined one of Cristiano Ronaldo’s best-ever goals? Cristiano gave Gerard Pique the Ronaldo chop, ball-rolled Xavi Alonso then chipped Iker Casillas. The Route One office thinks Ronaldo’s tantrum is justified.

Charlie Unwin of Sunday League team Chells Rovers scores a Puskás Award contender. The goal was the winner in a 5-4 thriller. Charlie told TalkSport Radio he is considering retirement following the worldie.

THE BECKS OF THE DECKS 🎵

We have another feel-good story to take your mind off the international break.

Jack Grealish is learning how to DJ.

Jack has not chosen a stage name yet but is currently favouring “DJ Grealo.” Like Diplo but from Birmingham.

The English winger knows a thing or two about partying. Following Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign, the City boys racked up a £47,000 bar bill.

In the past, Jack has said he fancies himself as a club promoter somewhere like Tenerife or Ibiza.

In fact, he was spotted going to Ibiza with fellow Brummie DJ Russke during the summer of 2022. Maybe this trip sparked Jack’s interest in getting behind the decks…?

Hmmm… probably not.

Jack reveals the main motivation for learning to mix the decks is more mundane.

“I just want to learn some stuff outside of football, have a hobby and stuff.” Spiritual stuff.

He doesn’t do much outside football and is looking for a hobby to replace his TV binging.

Jack’s eclectic music taste suggests he will have a musical offering that will have broad appeal. 

"I'm awful but everything takes time. I want to do a bit of everything, 80s and 90s - a bit of everything I reckon.” 

Interstingly, football and music have overlapped throughout history. Electronic music has had close ties with the football world in particular.

“The rise of rave culture in the UK, and ecstasy use, are sometimes even cited as contributing to a reduction in hooliganism and violence between rival teams,” said Martin Guttridge-Hewitt at DJ Mag. 

With so much spare time, footballers are always looking to keep themselves busy.

But… some footballers have weirder hobbies than others.

• Lionel Messi has an antique collection.

• Neymar Jr loves high-stakes poker. 

• Best of all, Joe Allen, former Liverpool midfielder looks after chickens…

Fortunately, Jack’s DJ’ing is a hobby we football fans can get more excited about. 

MEME 😆