Following the Russia-Ukraine war, football managers and club owners are now part of the UK government’s economic sanctions, as a billionaire and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is a Russian citizen, was sanctioned from earning a dime.
The 55-year-old Abramovich fled Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, while the billionaire succeeded in winning the bid to buy Chelsea in 2003, a British football club founded in 1905 in West London.
To that effect, Chelsea football club will be given a special license to operate amidst the restrictions on selling the club, but will nevertheless allow fans with an existing ticket to watch a match and staff to be paid salaries.
With limits on ticket sales, transfers, and new contracts, Chelsea’s long-term future has been cast into doubt.
However, Abramovich’s decision to sell the football clubs was found to be the major reason for the UK government’s sanctions against him, including placing the transaction restriction against him and his business, despite numerous denials of interfering or supporting Russian inversion and bombarding of Ukraine.
Abramovich may be frustrated over the decisions of the government considering the transactions prohibition on both businesses and individuals with the travel band on him.
The decision also caused panic among the Russians living in the UK, as many have started planning on how to evacuate the country for the survival of their businesses, with earned money, amid restrictions on travel and sanctions against Russia and Russians.
Per a tweet from Nadine Dorries, the minister for Sport and Culture
1/ 4🧵Putin’s attack on Ukraine continues & we are witnessing new levels of evil by the hour. Today the Government has announced further sanctions against individuals linked to the Russian Government. This list includes Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club.
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2022
2/4 Our priority is to hold those who have enabled the Putin regime to account. 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.
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2022
3/4 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
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2022
4/4 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.
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2022
Both the management of Chelsea and members of the supporters have agreed to meet with the UK government to find solutions, considering the rights of the billionaire and Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, as well as the future of the Chelsea football club.
