Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned by UK government amid Russian oligarch crackdown
Chelsea continue to deal with the fallout of owner Roman Abramovich being disqualified as a director of the club and sanctioned by the UK government for his links to Vladimir Putin after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The UK government initially brought sanctions against the owner last Thursday but despite Abramovich’s assets being frozen, Chelsea were handed a new licence to continue “football-related activities” and are in negotiations with the government to amend some aspects of it.
A statement from the league on Saturday read: “Following the imposition of sanctions by the UK government, the Premier League Board has disqualified Roman Abramovich as a director of Chelsea Football Club. The board’s decision does not impact on the club’s ability to train and play its fixtures, as set out under the terms of a licence issued by the government which expires on 31 May 2022.”
The disqualification of an owner by the Premier League would normally trigger the sale of their shareholding, however Abramovich had already publicly announced his intention to sell the club and a process has begun with bidders told to press on with submissions. A number are understood to be interested including LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and British property tycoon Nick Candy.
Chelsea adviser Petr Cech admitted he is unsure if the club will be able to finish the season, while on the pitch, Chelsea beat Newcastle 1-0 on Sunday and although head coach Thomas Tuchel promised to see out the campaign at Stamford Bridge, he refused to commit to the club in the longer term.
Thomas Tuchel would welcome ‘a message for peace’ on Chelsea shirts
Thomas Tuchel would be open to Chelsea wearing “a message for peace” on their shirts after sponsor Three suspended their deal with the club following the sanctions against owner Roman Abramovich.
Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich’s UK assets – including Chelsea – are now frozen, with the west London club handed a special licence to continue with “football-related activities”.
“You can always wear a message for peace and it can never be the wrong message,” he said. “Of course maybe the worry is to find enough shirts that we can play with the sanctions! But as long as we have enough shirts and as long as the bus is full of fuel we will arrive and we will be competitive.
“This is what everybody can be sure of and what we demand of ourselves. When it’s a big storm you dig in and you are all together.”
Michael Jones14 March 2022 11:27
Chelsea credit cards temporarily suspended after Roman Abramovich sanctions
Chelsea were left facing further uncertainty after the club’s credit cards were temporarily suspended in the wake of owner Roman Abramovich being sanctioned by the UK Government.
The club have been granted a license to continue with “football-related activities” but Chelsea are unable to operate as a business and have been banned from selling match tickets or merchandise.
Chelsea have been in discussions with the government in the hope of amending the license and easing the restrictions but were hit on Friday when banks suspended the club’s accounts.
The Independent has been told that it came as companies accessed the operating license handed to the club, but it is understood that Chelsea are hopeful the credit cards will soon be up and running as normal.
Abramovich was sanctioned on Thursday after the government claimed to have proven the 55-year-old’s links to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich has always denied links to Russia’s current regime, but Putin’s war in Ukraine has led to a major geopolitical shift.
Michael Jones14 March 2022 11:20
John Terry thanks Chelsea fans after Havertz winner
Former Chelsea captain, John Terry, sent the Blues fans a message of thanks on Twitter after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Kai Havertz scored an 89th minute winner at Stamford Bridge to pick up all three points for Chelsea and speaking after the game, Terry praised the forward saying:
“Great vision, great execution, superb touch and finish. Our supporters were excellent today, I stood there proud to be Chelsea.
“Well done boys and a huge thank you to our fans.”
Michael Jones14 March 2022 11:12
Mario Melchiot on Chelsea’s uncertain future
Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot spoke to BBC Radio 5Live about the ongoing situation at the club following the sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich and how the uncertain future for Chelsea could affect the players off the pitch. He said:
Uncertainty. That is one of the key things that footballers hate the most. One of the things that people have to understand: when you’re a footballer, and you stand on the field and the referee blows the whistle, and you play 90 minutes.
“Those 90 minutes, you forget about everything. The only moment when you think about the fans or anybody around you, is when you make a mistake or you score a goal, because then your emotions go. But away from that, you’re so happy because your mindset takes you away from all the problems you had.
“Even if you have personal problems, football is one of the key things. It’s almost like a medicine to any footballer. But the reality comes in before the game and right after the game.
“Chelsea can’t make any moves. The Government’s stepped in now, we have to see. We have to see who’s going to take over charge of the club. We don’t know if someone’s going to come in and wants to aim for the same idea. Because that’s also a question.
“People can say ‘oh, someone else can come in’. But you don’t know, we also have to see that someone has the same love as what the club has always been used to having.”
Michael Jones14 March 2022 11:05
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust send message to UK government regarding club’s new owners
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) have released a statement with their “key asks and expectations” for any sale of the west London football club.
Current owner, Roman Abramovich, put the club up for sale two weeks ago but after being hit with sanctions from the UK government his assets in this country are frozen including Chelsea FC. That means any sale of the club comes under supervision from the government.
This has put the sale into some doubt, but there are still plenty of interested parties. Nick Candy, Robert “Woody” Johnson. Todd Boehly’s consortium, and the Ricketts family are a select few who have expressed their interest in buying Chelsea.
With the situation as uncertain as it is though the CST have released a statement of expectations from Chelsea supporters.
The statement reads: “Key asks and expectations of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust in any sale of the club:
“The Government must resolve the situation as quickly and transparently as possible.
“The Government must implement the recommendations of the Fan Led Review – including by ensuring Chelsea fans are given a golden share by the new owners of the club.
“The CPO (Chelsea Pitch Owners) must be protected in all circumstances.
“Roman Abramovich’s tenure at Chelsea is almost certain to end, and our focus must be on what comes next and ensuring a sustainable future for the club.”
Michael Jones14 March 2022 10:54
Thomas Tuchel queries Premier League ownership tests after Chelsea beat Newcastle
Thomas Tuchel questioned the Premier League’s ownership tests following Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
Head coach Tuchel reaffirmed his commitment to the Blues despite the club’s uncertain future due to owner Roman Abramovich’s Government sanctions.
Abramovich has had all his UK assets frozen barring Chelsea in the wake of Downing Street claiming to have proven the Russian-Israeli billionaire’s links to Vladimir Putin.
Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine, coupled with Saudi Arabia carrying out 81 public executions on Saturday, made for a tense backdrop to the Blues’ last-gasp win over the Saudi-bankrolled Magpies.
The Premier League insisted Newcastle’s owners, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, proved suitable separation from the Saudi state before its takeover, despite crown prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the PIF.
Michael Jones14 March 2022 10:45
Chelsea vs Newcastle best of the stats
Newcastle’s nine-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end, with the Magpies also failing to score for the first time in 10 matches since losing to Man City in December (0-4).
Only versus Spurs (33) have Chelsea won more Premier League games than they have against Newcastle (29), with the Blues winning each of their last nine home league games against the Magpies.
The Magpies have won just one of their last 28 away league games against Chelsea (D7 L20), winning 2-0 in May 2012 under Alan Pardew.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are unbeaten in their last 35 Premier League home games played in March (W30 D5), since a 4-2 loss against Sunderland in 2001. Only in August (38 between 1993 and 2015) have the Blues had a longer unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in a specific month.
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones14 March 2022 10:36
Thomas Tuchel praises ‘quality’ Kai Havertz after Newcastle display
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, was full of praise for Kai Havertz after the 22-year-old secured all three points for the Blues in the Premier League game against Newcastle yesterday.
Tuchel was impressed with Chelsea’s game management and called Havertz a ‘quality and reliable’ player. Tuchel said:
It was a big three points for us. It was a tough match against a physically strong, well organised opponent. We had to be tough to give ourselves a chance to land the sucker punch and we did that with a quality finish.
“I was impressed with the way we played down the clock after that and almost scored a second one. It shows how much a change in confidence and rhythm it gives you when you finally get the goal.
“It was a goal of real quality from a real quality player. He [Havertz] is a top character and on absolutely the right path in his development. He is so reliable and very strong.”
Michael Jones14 March 2022 10:30
Kai Havertz scores last-minute winner as Chelsea and Newcastle serve reminder of both sides of football
A moment from Kai Havertz that displays why we keep coming back to football, in a match that offered so many reasons to stay away.
Procedure insists we must state the scoreline of this match at Stamford Bridge was a late 1-0 win for Chelsea over Newcastle United, but the real significance is not on the table or anything like this. It is what it means for the sport, and society.
The wonder is how a fixture like this will be looked back on. What will its place in history be?
There were many moments when it barely felt like a football match at all, and not just because it was mostly a poor game.
It is difficult not to feel that, just at the point where the Premier League appears to have reached a peak in terms of financial power, this showcased the absolute worst of the sport. So much of it, put bluntly, was so depressing.
Michael Jones14 March 2022 10:22
Joy on the pitch amid turmoil at Chelsea
After a week of uncertainty over the future of Chelsea football club both senior teams stepped up on the pitch at the weekend to give their supporters a bit of hope and joy going forward.
Thomas Tuchel’s men’s team took on Newcastle at home, playing at Stamford Bridge for the first time since receiving government sanctions due to owner Roman Abramovich’s links to Russia in wake of their invasion of Ukraine.
The Blues faced a tough challenge from Eddie Howe’s men – themselves under pressure due to their Saudi-backed ownership after 81 men were executed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Remarkably, Emma Hayes’ women’s team mirrored the events at Stamford Bridge as they took on Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League.
Sam Kerr scored a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea beat Villa to boost their WSL title hopes in what was also their first home game since owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned.
Kerr pounced on a long pass from keeper Zecira Musovic in the 92nd minute and poked the ball home, an outcome that was cruel on a resolute Villa side.
The sanctions also meant that only supporters who had bought season tickets or individual match tickets before 10 March were able to attend the match at Kingsmeadow.
Michael Jones14 March 2022 10:14
Credit: Source link
