6 Ways Roman Abramovich Sanctions Will Affect Chelsea FC
It is no longer news that Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the government for his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Though the Stamford Bridge club will be given a special licence to continue operation, but this will be under limited terms.
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Here are ways the sanctions will affect the popular football club according to Sky Sports.
1. Sale on hold
The freezing of Abramovich’s assets means any sale of the club is on hold for now.
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A number of interested bidders have signalled their interest in the club, although many believed Abramovich’s reported £3 billion ($4 billion) asking price was unrealistic.
2. Season to be completed
The current licence given to the club to allow their day-to-day operations to continue is due to expire on May 31, after the end of the season.
Chelsea confirmed both their men’s and women’s teams would fulfil their fixtures on Thursday.
3. Players can be paid
Chelsea’s licence allows the club to continue paying staff and costs for the hosting of matches at Stamford Bridge.
However, travel costs for away games have been capped at £20,000 per match, which could cause issues for away matches in the Champions League, with Chelsea set to travel to French club Lille next week.
4. No signings or new contracts
Chelsea can continue to pay money they owe for transfer agreements made prior to March 10, 2022.
However, no exception has been granted for the recruitment of new players or agreeing new contracts.
Chelsea risk losing Captain Cesar Azpilicueta and key defender Antonio Rudiger, among those out of contract at the end of the season, on free transfers.
5. No new tickets or merchandise sales
Season ticket holders at Stamford Bridge will be allowed to attend matches, but no ticket or merchandise sales are permitted.
That could mean away fans are shut out of Stamford Bridge and Chelsea supporters are blocked from travelling to away games.
6. Travel to and from games
The club will be able to pay for "reasonable costs of travel" to and from games, but only up to an amount "not exceeding the value of £20,000 per game".
Chelsea FC sale: It can't be the same after the Roman Abramovich era, Nollywood's Okon Lagos expresses sadness
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that actor Ime Bishop Umoh aka Okon Lagos has taken to social media with a post expressing his deep sadness over the state of affairs of the popular football club, Chelsea FC.
The actor’s post comes following an announcement that the football club will be put up for sale as a side effect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to the actor, things can never remain the same once the Roman Abramovich era is gone.
Okon wrote:
"Football has always been treated without involvement with politics and government. Why should these sanctions touch football? Football should never be made to suffer from the political decisions of any person(s). It can never be the same after the Roman Abramovich era."
Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovic to lose Chelsea over Ukraine invasion by Russia as buyers line up
Legit.ng had earlier reported that Abromovic may lose his grip on the English club side. Chelsea Football Club as part of a major crackdown by the West led by the US government to put pressure on Putin to leave Ukraine.
Investor jostle for Chelsea
Investors are said to have begun to jostle for the Premiership side which has belonged to Abromovic since 2003.
As governments around the globe mount pressure on Putin to pull back from Ukraine, his allies and billionaires including Abramovic are prime targets of Western countries who see Putin’s aggression as a threat to world peace.
Source: Legit.ng
