Roman Abramovich is believed to have close ties to President Putin
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of London club Chelsea, announced his intention to sell his English club.
In a statement on the official website, Abramovich said he had made a “very difficult and painful decision.”
Abramovich said he would not “require the club to pay any outstanding debts”, noting that the sale would be donated to the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Abramovich had referred the management of the club’s affairs to the board of trustees of the “Chelsea Charitable Foundation”, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The move fueled speculation about the sale of the English club, and Swiss billionaire Hans-Jorg Weiss said he had received an offer to buy Chelsea. English club.
Hans-Jorg Weiss added that Abramovich “wants to get rid of Chelsea as soon as possible”, after the threat of sanctions was raised in parliament.
Abramovich, 55, is believed to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, something the Chelsea owner denies.
BBC Sport has learned that Abramovich has received three offers to buy the club, valued at around £3 billion.
A number of Russian billionaires were subjected to European Union sanctions, and their assets were frozen, including billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who has business ties to Everton club.
The British government has not yet announced the imposition of sanctions on Abramovich, nor on Usmanov, but Labor MP Chris Bryant said Tuesday, in Parliament, that “Abramovich is terrified of the sanctions, and therefore he decided to sell his house tomorrow, Wednesday, as well as another apartment.” .
At the Prime Minister’s questioning session in Parliament, opposition leader Keir Starmer said, “Why is Abramovich not being sanctioned?” Prime Minister Boris Johnson replied, “It is inappropriate to comment on individual cases at this point.”
Weiss said Abramovich was seeking to “sell all his villas in London” and wanted “to get rid of Chelsea as soon as possible”.
“I myself and three others received an offer to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.”
The Russian billionaire bought the Blues in 2003 for $ 140 million, and made major changes to it, making it a club capable of competing at the top of the English Premier League and in world football.
Abramovich loaned the club a total of 1.5 billion pounds, which enabled him to achieve the successes that he achieved.
Under his management, Chelsea won the Champions League twice. Five times in the English Premier League and the FA Cup, and the League Cup three times.
In August 2021, he won the European Super Cup, and finally won the Club World Cup, for the first time in the club’s history. This means that Chelsea won all possible titles under the ownership of Abramovich.
A week of turmoil in Chelsea
- February 24: Russian President Vladimir Putin launches a military campaign against Ukraine
- February 25:. Labor MP Chris Bryant says the British government is required to expropriate Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea club and seize his assets over allegations of corruption.
- February 26: Roman Abramovich announces that the management of Chipsey FC will be referred to the Chelsea Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
- February 27: Several members of the charity express concern about whether the charities’ laws give them the right to run the club. Chelsea defeated Liverpool on penalties in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium
- February 28: Ukraine asks Abramovich to help it find a “peaceful solution” with Russia
- 1 March: The Charity Control Authority says it has “inquired” Chelsea after the club’s management was referred to its charity
- March 2: Swiss billionaire Hans-Joerg Weiss says he has received an offer to buy Chelsea FC from owner Roman Abramovich.
- March 2: The owner of Chelsea announces his intention to sell the club.