Chelsea issues 24-word statement on ‘horrific and devastating’ Ukraine war but FAILS to mention Russia – one day after Roman Abramovich relinquished control to protect club’s reputation
- Chelsea FC has released a short statement addressing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine
- The club made no mention of Russia, Putin or Roman Abramovich, who has relinquished control
- Abramovich has come under renewed scrutiny over his alleged links to the Russian state
- Chelsea insists the 55-year-old was motivated by protecting the club, not avoiding sanctions
- However, Abramovich’s shock move has now raised serious questions about Chelsea’s future
Chelsea FC has released a short statement addressing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine after Roman Abramovich dramatically relinquished control of the club ‘to protect Chelsea’s reputation’ amid fears he could face sanctions over his alleged links to the Russian state.
Abramovich last night announced he was handing the ‘stewardship and care of Chelsea FC’ to the trustees of the club’s charitable foundation following the Russian invasion. However, he remains the owner, with the decision said to be more ‘symbolic’ than technical.
The Russian-born billionaire, who is worth around £10billion and bought the club from Ken Bates in summer 2003, has come under renewed scrutiny after the war broke out and was named as a person of interest over his suspected ties to Putin’s regime.
In a short statement on the war in Ukraine which contained no reference to Abramovich, Putin or Russia, Chelsea said: ‘The situation in Ukraine is horrific and devastating. Chelsea FC’s thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine. Everyone at the club is praying for peace.’
Chelsea insists the 55-year-old was motivated by protecting the club, not avoiding sanctions, at a time when it risks suffering reputational damage.
Nothing significant is going to change off the pitch, aside from Abramovich ‘stepping back’ to let the charity trustees be nominally in charge. However, Abramovich’s shock move has now raised serious questions about Chelsea’s future.
Though bosses insist Chelsea is not and will not be for sale, potential suitors are said to be preparing takeover offers should the situation escalate. Bloomberg reported that the club has already fielded at least one inquiry this month over the availability of the club. A representative for Chelsea declined to comment when contacted by the publication.
And whether Abramovich will ever return to taking a more visible hands-on role at the club will likely depend strongly on whether he faces any sanctions, and what happens in Ukraine and Anglo-Russian relations.
Last night, it was alleged that any attempts to place sanctions upon him could be disastrous for the Stamford Bridge club. The Times reported that if that did happen, it could prompt him to ask Chelsea to pay him back £1.5billion it owes him.
Abramovich is also facing a considerable backlash among Members of Parliament who are demanding that his assets be seized.
In the Commons last week, Labour MP Chris Bryant read out a leaked Home Office document from 2019 which suggested the billionaire was linked to Putin and ‘corrupt activity and practices’. He questioned whether he should be allowed to base himself in Britain.
Downing Street has not named him among those to be punished after Putin launched the strike in Ukraine, instead naming five senior Russia-based figures.
Chelsea FC has released a short statement addressing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. General view of Stamford Bridge
Roman Abramovich dramatically relinquished control of the club ‘to protect Chelsea’s reputation’
In a short statement on the war in Ukraine, Chelsea said: ‘The situation in Ukraine is horrific and devastating. Chelsea FC’s thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine. Everyone at the club is praying for peace’
Vladimir Putin next to billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich in Sochi, Russia, July 19, 2016
Who is taking control of Chelsea FC? What does Abramovich’s move mean for the club?
Who is taking control of the club?
In a statement last night, Abramovich announced he was handing the ‘stewardship and care of Chelsea FC’ to the trustees of the club’s charitable foundation.
The Chelsea Foundation trustees are:
- Bruce Buck, Chelsea chair;
- John Devine, partner at sports legal firm Muckle LLP;
- Emma Hayes, Chelsea Women manager;
- Piara Power, chair of anti-discrimination network FARE;
- Paul Ramos, Chelsea finance director;
- Sir Hugh Robertson, former Sports Minister.
How does this change operations?
Nothing significant is going to change off the pitch, aside from Abramovich ‘stepping back’ to let the charity trustees be nominally in charge.
How will this impact the club?
Abramovich’s shock move has now raised serious questions about Chelsea’s future.
Though bosses insist Chelsea is not and will not be for sale, potential suitors are said to be preparing takeover offers should the situation escalate.
Bloomberg reported that the club has already fielded at least one inquiry this month over the availability of the club. A representative for Chelsea declined to comment when contacted by the publication.
And whether Abramovich will ever return to taking a more visible hands-on role at the club will likely depend strongly on whether he faces any sanctions, and what happens in Ukraine and Anglo-Russian relations.
Last night, it was alleged that any attempts to place sanctions upon him could be disastrous for the Stamford Bridge club. The Times reported that if that did happen, it could prompt him to ask Chelsea to pay him back £1.5billion it owes him.
Why is this happening now?
Abramovich, who is worth around £10billion and bought the club from Ken Bates in summer 2003, has come under renewed scrutiny after the war broke out and was named as a person of interest over his suspected ties to Putin’s regime.
The Russian-born billionaire is also facing a considerable backlash among Members of Parliament who are demanding that his assets be seized.
In the Commons last week, Labour MP Chris Bryant read out a leaked Home Office document from 2019 which suggested the billionaire was linked to Putin and ‘corrupt activity and practices’.
He questioned whether he should be allowed to base himself in Britain.
In a rare statement on Saturday, Abramovich said: ‘During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.
‘I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.
‘I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.’
Speculating on how the affair could impact Chelsea, Liverpool University football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire told the Times: ‘If he feels he is being made a scapegoat for the activities of Putin then the worst-case scenario is he tries to call in the loan.
‘Then we’ve got a crisis. He and Putin could argue that it is the British government that has destroyed Chelsea Football Club. There could be a lot of misrepresentation and accusations made from all parties if the British government does go down this route.
‘But I suspect this government will not want to upset football fans as we have a populist government. I suspect Chelsea’s legal team would be going through all the options.’
Marina Granovskaia will remain in control of football operations, just as chairman Bruce Buck will retain his same duties and German Thomas Tuchel will continue to deal with both of them as the first team manager.
The trustees in question are Buck, sports lawyer John Devine, Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes, former Kick It Out CEO Piara Powar, former Sports Minister and Chelsea fan Hugh Robertson and the club’s finance director Paul Ramos.
Chelsea have been transformed under Abramovich’s time in control. Before he arrived, they had won one top-flight English title in their history, in 1955. Under his ownership they have added five Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, five FA Cups and three League Cups, for a total of 17 major trophies in 18 completed seasons.
The silverware has come at a massive price, with average net transfer spending of £68.2million per year for 19 years (adjusted for inflation to 2022 prices) and average wage spending of £236million per year. But few Chelsea fans will be complaining.
The Russian has a reputation as being a close associate of Putin. The British Government has blacklisted several Putin allies, making them subject to sanctions and asset freezing. For now, those do not include Abramovich, though Whitehall sources say this is subject to constant review.
The private hope of Abramovich in distancing himself from Chelsea, is that the club will not be targeted for abuse by those who link him to the Russian President and the war in Ukraine.
He also accepts that should London decide to come after him, this move will not stop them seizing assets, including Chelsea.
Last week, Bryant used parliamentary privilege to share a leaked Home Office document in the Commons.
He said the document was from 2019, and questioned why no action had yet been taken against the 55-year-old based on its warnings.
At business questions, the Rhondda MP and former minister said: ‘I have got hold of a leaked document from 2019 from the Home Office which says in relation to Mr Abramovich – “As part of HMG’s Russia strategy aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity, Abramovich remains of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices. An example of this is Abramovich admitting in court proceedings that he paid for political influence.
‘“Therefore HMG is focused on ensuring that individuals linked to to illicit finance and malign activity are unable to base themselves in the UK and will use the relevant tools at its disposal, including immigration powers to prevent this”.
‘That is nearly three years ago and yet remarkably little has been done in relation. Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country? Surely we should be looking at seizing some of his assets including his £152million home? And making sure that other people who have had Tier 1 Visas like this are not engaged in malign activity?’.
In 2011 the High Court heard that Abramovich had used the well-connected oligarch Boris Berezovsky as his ‘political godfather’ to help him conduct business deals in a country where police were ‘corrupt’ and courts ‘open to manipulation’.
The billionaire Chelsea owner has faced renewed focus on his business activities in recent days but has always denied any wrongdoing or grounds for him to be sanctioned
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, left, talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at Stamford Bridge, in London last year
Labour’s Chris Bryant told the Commons: ‘Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country?’
The Russian billionaire Chelsea owner has faced renewed focus on his activities this week
The court heard the Chelsea owner believed it was his ‘moral obligation’ to hand Berezovsky £1.3billion to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Abramovich gave his former friend the cash because he felt it was part of the ‘code of honour’ that had replaced the rule of law in Russia after the collapse of communism, it was alleged.
The billionaire has not been seen at his Premier League football club’s south-west London home, Stamford Bridge, for months.
He withdrew his application for a British Tier 1 investor visa in 2018, after reported delays in his application following criticism of Russian oligarchs in the wake of the Salisbury poisonings.
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