Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the British government, with severe implications for Chelsea Football Club.
It has been announced that the Chelsea owner’s UK assets have officially been frozen by the British government, and he has also been handed a travel ban.
The news has meant the sale of Chelsea has been put on hold, with the club only able to operate under a special licence. However, the club can still be sold if Abramovich doesn’t benefit from the proceeds. The club will also be unable to sell any more tickets, with only season ticket holders able to attend matches.
They also won’t be allowed to renew contracts, meaning Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta will leave the club this summer as things stand, while the London club can’t buy or sell players, or sell any club merchandise.
In addition, Chelsea are prohibited from spending over £20,000 on travel to away games, which could have serious implications on the club’s Champions League tie with French club Lille.
Chelsea will be able to pay players, staff, and any outstanding transfer fees. They can also spend a maximum of £500,000 on staging games.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Today’s sanctions obviously have a direct impact on Chlesea & its fans. We have been working hard to ensure the club & the national game are not unnecessarily harmed by these important sanctions.
“To ensure the club can continue to compete and operate we are issuing a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches while, crucially, depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club,” she added.
“I know this brings some uncertainty, but the Government will work with the league & clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended. Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We’re committed to protecting them.”
Abramovich is one of seven Russian Oligarchs hit with an estimated £15bn sanction hit, and these are the latest steps taken against Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who announced the asset freeze and travel ban, said: “Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression.
“The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame. Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop in this mission to ramp up the pressure on the Putin regime and choke off funds to his brutal war machine.”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson echoed these statements: “There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine.
“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”
