Billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea Football Club
Justin Thales/AFP
Chelsea magnate Roman Abramovich was on Thursday included in the list of Russian individuals sanctioned by the British government for invading Ukraine. With this action, the billionaire’s assets were frozen, and he was prevented from doing business or traveling to the UK. The decision prevents, even temporarily, the sale of the London club.
British Chancellor Liz Truss said: “Oligarchs and corrupt rulers have no place in our economy nor in our society. With their close ties to Putin, they are complicit in his aggression.”
The punishment for Abramovich has a direct impact on Chelsea’s sporting activities. The team is prohibited from selling, renewing or signing new player contracts. The sale of game tickets is also prohibited, and entry to the stadium is only allowed to those who have purchased a ticket package for the entire season.
However, the UK authorities have published a license to give Chelsea the ability to keep performing football-related tasks, allowing the club to continue participating in the competitions it competes with – the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
“In light of the significant impact that today’s sanctions will have on Chelsea Football Club and the potential ramifications, the Government this morning issued a license to allow a range of football-related activities to continue at Chelsea. The UK government said in a statement It will in turn protect the Premier League, the football pyramid in general, loyal fans and other clubs.”
Abramovich, a longtime friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, began moving to sell Chelsea just days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when he found himself under public pressure. The current manager of the London club, whose value is estimated at more than 26 billion Brazilian reais, has also stated that he will donate the profits of the operation to “the people of Ukraine”.
Abramovich bought Chelsea FC in July 2003 for £140 million. For nearly 20 years, the club has raised its profile globally, collecting idols and collecting trophies in important competitions, such as the Champions League, Europa League, English Championship and Club World Cup.
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