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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

'Does anyone really care?' - Jurgen Klopp gives passionate response to Chelsea and Roman Abramovich questions

Jurgen Klopp says football as a whole should "think more about where the money is coming from" following the sanctions for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

On Thursday, the Government announced a host of wide-ranging sanctions on the owner of the London club for what they view as a close association with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who is currently waging a war in neighbouring Ukraine.

The measures include a block on ticket sales to both home and away fans, while no official merchandise can be purchased and the club are unable to negotiate contracts or sign new players.

Chelsea have essentially had their ability to turn a profit frozen by the Government with the Prime Minister's spokesperson saying on Thursday the "measures are obviously designed to punish Putin and ensure any revenue generated cannot make its way through to the Russian war machine."

Klopp said the punishment is not the fault of Chelsea, but admitted he hoped it would lead to more pertinent questions over where English football's billions of pounds are coming from.

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And the Liverpool manager said he is more than happy with how the Reds' owners, Fenway Sports Group, operate at Anfield.

"I don’t think it is really fair to ask me," Klopp said. "You are much longer in this country. Did you care really?

"Did anyone really care when Roman Abramovich came to Chelsea?

"Did anyone really care when Newcastle got taken over? Do supporters really care?

"It is a question. It is pretty obvious where the money is coming from. Everyone knew it, but we accepted it.

"That’s our fault. It is society’s fault so we accepted it. Now we cannot accept it anymore and so we punish them, it is not Chelsea’s fault. Not at all.

Klopp continued: "I have no idea about what background checks [for new owners] would look like.

"But I can tell you I am six and a half years here and from the first day I came here I was really happy with our owners and in these times I am even more happy with our owners.

"In the end, owners are there to lead the club, to give financial resources when they want to make a benefit.

"We don’t even think about where the money is coming from.

"Now we start obviously thinking more about where the money is coming from.

"I think that is a good idea to be honest. We should think about that a bit more."

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