(London) European and world champions Chelsea are among Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s holdings that have been hit by British government sanctions on Thursday over his links to President Vladimir Putin.
Posted at 10:11 a.m.
The operations of the London club, including the sale of tickets and the signing of new players, are subject to a moratorium. The store that sells club merchandise at Stamford Bridge stadium in west London quickly closed, and a poster plastered in the doors told supporters that the sudden closure “is due to the recent government announcement”. .
The extraordinary British government measures afflicting the English Premier League club mean Chelsea can continue operations under a special permit ‘regulations against Russia’ which will be in effect until May 31. It was this special permit that forced Abramovich to quickly want to sell his club. In the meantime, Chelsea will be able to continue playing, especially against Norwich on Thursday evening.
PHOTO ANDREW WINNING, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Roman Abramovich has failed to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in two official statements made since the war began two weeks ago.
The British government has called Abramovich a “pro-Kremlin oligarch” whose fortune is estimated at more than US$12 billion, and added that he must be punished for his ties to Putin. Abramovich is also accused of having “destabilized…undermined and threatened” Ukraine.
Abramovich, who made his fortune in oil and aluminum in the years after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, did not condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in two official statements since the start of the war two weeks ago.