In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom has seized all assets of Chelsea FC owner, Roman Abramovich.
This is part of the sanctions imposed on him and six other oligarchs by the country. Apart from freezing his assets, the UK government also imposed on him, a prohibition on transactions with UK individuals and businesses, as well as a travel ban.
He was sanctioned over links with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. The updated UK sanctions list said Mr. Abramovich has had a “close relationship for decades” with Putin, which the football club owner had previously denied.
Following the sanctions, Abramovich’s earlier planned sale of his football club Chelsea has now been put on hold. The UK government has also granted Chelsea a special license to allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches.
However, all the club’s teams are banned from offering new contracts to players or staff, conducting any official transfer business, including women’s team, selling new tickets to any game for any of their teams – including women and junior sides, as well as selling merchandise to fans.
Former Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, while reacting to this news, told Mirror.uk: “Honestly I have just listened to this situation. This morning we had a training session. Honestly, it’s a pity, also because I was a coach in this club, in Chelsea, I enjoyed two seasons. Also, I won two titles, I worked in this club. It’s a pity to listen to this situation, it’s not simple for the players, it’s not simple for Thomas Tuchel, for the fans, for the whole environment, Chelsea environment.
“Honestly, I hope that in general, that this situation between Russia and Ukraine is going to finish, and to find a peace, because it’s too much important”.
Investors King had earlier reported that Abramovich was banned from living in Britain. In a report by The Sun UK, senior security sources revealed that Abramovich, who owns a £125million mansion near Kensington is unlikely to ever be allowed to live in Britain again, as immigration officials have been instructed on this.
He was also alleged to have business connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin, even though he denied the allegation.
According to Forbes, Abramovich’s net worth was US$12.9 billion in 2019, making him the second-richest person in Israel, the eleventh-richest in Russia and the richest person in Portugal (accounting for his citizenship in each).