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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Martin Keown lets rip at "disgraceful" Chelsea fans in wake of Roman Abramovich sanctions

Martin Keown has slammed Chelsea fans for singing Roman Abramovich's name during their recent Premier League games against Burnley and Norwich.

The oligarch was sanctioned by the UK government on Thursday morning in the wake of Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Abramovich is alleged to have links to Vladimir Putin's regime, a claim he's always denied.

Many Chelsea fans continue to back the club's owner, despite foreign secretary Liz Truss insisting Russian oligarchs have "the blood of the Ukrainian people on their hands".

And, speaking on Friday, former Arsenal and Everton defender Keown was keen to share his disgust at the Blues fans who continue to support Abramovich.

How do you feel about Chelsea fans singing Roman Abramovich's name? Let us know in the comments below!

Roman Abramovich was placed on the UK government's sanctions list on Thursday (REUTERS)

"I think it’s a disgrace," Keown told talkSPORT on Friday.

"I think it’s an absolute disgrace when you see what’s happening around the world, the atrocities, the maternity ward that was bombed, there are shocking things we are seeing.

"It’s about time these Chelsea fans grew up and showed a little bit more respect when they go to these games."

Keown's talkSPORT colleague Simon Jordan added: "It is deeply insensitive, inappropriate and boarding on imbecilic conduct to celebrate someone [in this situation].

"I know why you want to celebrate him because in pure football terms he has elevated Chelsea to a position they would never have got to without his money.

"But there’s something wrong if you take away the reflection back at what is happening currently in Europe, what is happening to people in Ukraine, and feel any validation or any necessity to celebrate that owner.

"I think we have to call them out for being bloody idiots. I think they are perfectly informed, but I think they’re ignorant and disrespectful.

"It reflects incredibly poorly on Chelsea Football Club that a minority of silly fans would want to go away to Norwich City and chant their appreciation of Abramovich."

Speaking after Chelsea fans sang Abramovich's name at Turf Moor, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said: "I'm a Chelsea fan and I think it's totally wrong.

"It would be a minority of fans doing it, and I thought Thomas Tuchel, the manager, was quite right to come out and be clear about his disagreement with that."

Plenty of Chelsea fans showed their support to Ukraine during last month's EFL Cup final (Getty Images)

Tuchel said after the game: "It’s not the moment to do this. Listen, if we show solidarity we show solidarity and we should do it together.

"We take the knee together and if an important person from our club or another club unfortunately dies, we show a minute of respect.

"It’s not the moment to give other messages. It’s the moment to show respect... we do this because this is what we are also as a club.

"We show respect as a club and we need our fans to commit to this minute of applause. At this moment, we do it for Ukraine and there is no second opinion about the situation there.

"They have our thoughts and our support. We should stand together as a club. It’s not the moment for other messages."

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