The British government on Thursday imposed sanctions on wealthier Russians, including Chelsea’s billionaire Roman Abramovich. He is not allowed to travel to the UK. and transactions with UK individuals and companies.
UK freezes assets of Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovic (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The UK has frozen Roman Abramovich’s assets and imposed a travel ban
- Russian billionaire Abramovich owns Premier League club Chelsea
- Abramovich tried to sell Chelsea
The British government said on Thursday that Premier League club Chelsea can continue to compete despite sanctions against its Russian owner Roman Abramovich following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Britain imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on wealthier Russians, including Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich. The government added that Abramovich’s assets were frozen and he was banned from visiting the UK. and he is barred from transactions with UK individuals and companies.
“The license (from Chelsea) is under constant review and we will work closely with the football authorities,” the government said, according to the AP news agency. Also on the British sanctions list were industrialist Oleg Deripaska and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.
Just last week Roman Abramovich said he is keen on selling Chelsea and this decision was in the best interests of the reigning European and World Champions. He promised to donate the money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.
Abramovich bought the West London club in 2003 for a reported £140m and his investment contributed enormously to the most successful era in the team’s history as they won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and twice the Champions League.
Abramovich had said in his statement he intended to visit Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home ground, and bid farewell to the club after the sale.
Swiss business tycoon Hansjörg Wyss told a newspaper he was considering buying Chelsea from Abramovich, who said over the weekend he would step down from running the club but did not mention any plans for a change of ownership.
“Abramovich is currently trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly. I and three other people received an offer from Abramovich on Tuesday to buy Chelsea,” Blick quoted Wyss as saying in a job interview last week.
