Berlin – The Champions League winner and club world champion FC Chelsea is no longer allowed to transfer players, sell tickets for future games and must close all fan shops. That comes after Britain imposed tough sanctions on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday over Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The billionaire loses control of the London football club for the time being. It is currently questionable whether he can still sell it at all. The future of the team is also uncertain.
Chelsea can only continue playing thanks to a special license from the government, it was said before the Blues’ Premier League game at Norwich City on Thursday. “Football-related activities” are therefore still permitted for Londoners. Players, coaches and all other employees may continue to be paid. Travel expenses up to a maximum of 20,000 pounds (approx. 24,000 euros) per game are permitted. The financial expenditure per home game may not exceed 500,000 pounds (approx. 600,000 euros).
This is to prevent the sanctions from damaging the club too much. By allowing Londoners to continue playing their games, the league, football as a whole, loyal fans and other clubs are protected, the government said. Nonetheless, Chelsea are being hit hard by the sanctions against Abramovich. The club is losing significant income as a result of the freeze on sales of further tickets and merchandising.
It is also quite possible that the Blues will also lose some top performers. For example, the contracts with courted stars, including the German national soccer player Antonio Rüdiger and the Dane Andreas Christensen, expire in the summer. In view of the sanctions, it is questionable whether new contracts can be negotiated. On top of that, Chelsea could not sign a replacement for the defensive duo.
As announced by the British government, Abramovich’s assets have been frozen. Abramovich is banned from doing business with British individuals and companies and has also been slapped with a travel and transport ban. “There must be no safe havens for those who supported Putin’s vicious attack on Ukraine,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson was quoted as saying. Abramovich denies being close to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich recently announced that he would sell the club after almost 20 years and donate the proceeds from the sale to a foundation for victims of the war in Ukraine.