Swiss business tycoon Hansjörg Wyss said Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich is trying to get rid of the Premier League club soon and is considering buying the west London side.
Roman Abramovich wants rid of Chelsea, says Swiss business tycoon Wyss (Reuters Photo)
Swiss business tycoon Hansjörg Wyss has said he is considering buying Premier League club Chelsea and that its current Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, is keen to ‘get rid of’ the club sooner or later amid pressure from the Russian invasion of Ukraine .
Abramovich said he is handing over “stewardship” of the club to trustees of their charitable foundation after being asked to impose sanctions on him. The Russian sports community has been hit by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, with global sports organizations suspending Russia and the country’s athletes from major sporting events.
“Abramovich is asking far too much at the moment. You know: Chelsea owes him £2 billion. But Chelsea has no money. That means: Whoever buys Chelsea should compensate Abramovich,” Wyss told Blick newspaper, as quoted by Reuters.
Above all, FIFA and UEFA have suspended Russian national teams and country club teams from all competitions until further notice.
Several Russian individuals and entities have been sanctioned by the UK government and some UK opposition lawmakers have said Abramovich should be included on that list.
“CAN IMAGINE COMING TO CHELSEA WITH PARTNERS”
The move to hand day-to-day control of the club to the trustees of the foundation, which includes the club’s American chairman Bruce Buck, did not alter Abramovich’s status as the club’s owner.
Wyss, meanwhile, said even if Chelsea are bought, the Premier League club will have a consortium of 6-7 owners.
“I can well imagine going to Chelsea with partners. But first I have to examine the general conditions carefully. But what I can already say is that I will certainly not do something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, yes.” will be with a consortium of six or seven investors.”
Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003. Under his tenure, Chelsea had its most successful era as the west London club won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues.
