ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 12: Roman Abramovich, Owner of Chelsea celebrates with The FIFA Club World Cup trophy following their side's victory during the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Final match between Chelsea and Palmeiras at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich, owner of the English Premier League team Chelsea Football Club, was sanctioned by the UK government because of his relationship with the Vladimir Putin regime.
“There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
Abramovich is one of seven Russian oligarchs that has had his assets frozen by the UK in an effort to put additional pressure on Russia and the Putin Regime to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Due to these sanctions as an asset of Roman Abramovich the Chelsea Football Club can no longer:
- Buy new players
- Offer new contracts to players – including longtime captain Cesar Azpilicueta and German International, Antonio Rudiger.
- Sell new tickets to matches
- Sell new club merchandise (existing merchandise can still be sold via a third party)
- Redevelop or Renovate their stadium
- Spend over 500,000 pounds on security, stewarding and catering costs per home game
- Spend over 20,000 pounds on expenses per away game
- Sell the club, unless Abramovich allows the UK government to take control of the process and receives no proceeds from the sale
The only things the club can do are play matches at the senior level, youth level and women’s team and receive broadcast money
A statement provided by the UK government regarding the sanctions on Abramovich said, “Abramovich is associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilizing Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom Abramovich has had a close relationship with for decades,”.
Allow season ticket holders to attend games
Roman Abramovich purchased Chelsea FC in 2003 and revolutionized English Football by helping Chelsea become one of the biggest clubs in England and Europe, winning 21 trophies including 2 UEFA Champions League trophies in 19 years as Chelsea’s owner.
In anticipation of these sanctions and in the best interest of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last week for a speculative price of around 3 billion pounds. Some of the prospective buyers include New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, Swiss Billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, Los Angeles Dodgers part owner Todd Boehly and British billionaire property developer Nick Candy.
