Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government, placing the club’s future in limbo.
The Russian-Israeli billionaire has owned Chelsea since 2003, but he put the club up for sale last week amid the threat of being sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The government’s “oligarch taskforce” has set about targeting those with links to the Kremlin and has sanctioned Abramovich due to his ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as his stake in the company Evraz PLC, which has been “potentially supplying steel to the Russian military which may have been used in the production of tanks”.
The government’s sanction paper explained: “Abramovich is associated with a person who is/has been involved in destabilising Ukraine & undermining/threatening territorial integrity, sovereignty & independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom (he) has had close relationship for decades.”
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, added: “There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine. Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”
What does this mean for Chelsea?
Abramovich’s UK assets have been frozen, although he could apply to sell Chelsea provided he does not receive the proceeds. The government will strive to ensure he cannot make any more money from the club.
Abramovich sanctioned
What it means for Chelsea
- no new tickets can be sold
- no players bought, sold or loaned
- no money recouped from merchandise sales
- reasonable expenses allowed for matches like travel, security and catering
- Future TV revenues can only be spent on essential operating costs
Chelsea have been given special dispensation to continue operation due to the club’s important role in sport and society. Players and staff will continue to be paid, but the club cannot now sell additional tickets to those already sold.
The core principle of the licence is to deny access to revenue, beyond what Chelsea needs to operate on a day-to-day basis. The limitations apply to all aspects of the club including the women’s and youth teams.
The club can continue to spend money on travel to training and matches, up to £20,000 per game. The club’s merchandise shop will be closed but stadium catering can continue as well as the hire of security and stewarding, up to a total cost of £500,000 per fixture.
The club are obliged to keep records of any activity permitted under the licence with a value exceeding £5,000 for a minimum of six years.
Chelsea will still be able to receive money from existing Premier League TV deals, which will enable the club to pay its staff, but all incoming money will be frozen so that it cannot be withdrawn from the club.
Nadine Dorries, the secretary for digital, culture, media and sport, said: “Our priority is to hold those who have enabled the Putin regime to account.
“Today’s sanctions obviously have a direct impact on Chelsea and its fans. We have been working hard to ensure the club and the national game are not unnecessarily harmed by these important sanctions.
“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.
“I know this brings some uncertainty, but the government will work with the league and 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.”
Members of the Chelsea hierarchy are meeting government officials later on Thursday to further discuss the implications.
Could Abramovich still sell the club?
No 10 has said the government is “open” to a sale of Chelsea – but stressed in “no way” could proceeds benefit the sanctioned oligarch Roman Abramovich. The owner would have to apply to the Treasury for a licence to sell the club.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “We are now talking to Chelsea Football Club, obviously and those conversations will continue. It will be part of discussions the terms of any specific licence that is granted to allow the sale to proceed.
“The important thing is under no circumstances would any sale allow Roman Abramovich to profit from that or take any money from that sale”.
They added: “The principle has been to try and mitigate the impact on fans and the wider football pyramid. These measures are obviously designed to punish Putin and ensure any revenue generate cannot make its way through the Russian war machine.
“It’s fair to say the government’s open to a sale of the club but… it would require another licence and that would require a further conversation with the Treasury”.
What about transfers?
There is no explicit line on future transfers, only that existing obligations can still be met.
The government’s explanation of Chelsea’s licence says Chelsea can make “inter-club payments to discharge obligations which existed before 10 March 2022 under player loan/sale arrangements”.
This would indicate that only previously agreed payments can be made and received, meaning Chelsea are effectively under a transfer ban and that no new signings can be made either by transfer or loan.
It would also put into question whether fresh contracts can be offered to players whose deals expire at the end of the season, like captain Cesar Azpilicueta and fellow defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
The licence expires on 31 May and the Treasury reserves the right to vary, revoke or suspend it at any time.
What about tickets for upcoming matches?
Chelsea fans who have already bought tickets for upcoming matches can still attend. Likewise, visiting fans who have already bought tickets for Stamford Bridge can still go to the game. But no new transactions can be made, so only season-ticket holders will be eligible for games later in the season which have not yet gone on sale.
Chelsea’s website still appears to be selling tickets, but those bought on or after 10 March would not be valid.
