After the tough sanctions against the Russian club owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea are apparently threatened with further financial difficulties.
As British media reported unanimously, the Champions League winner’s accounts are said to have been frozen and credit cards blocked for the time being. The background to this is said to be that the banks are examining what the club can do under the sanctions set by the British government.
Great Britain imposed far-reaching measures against Chelsea on Thursday. The club world champion is no longer allowed to transfer players, sell tickets for games and has to close all fan shops. The Russian owner Abramowitsch loses control of the football club for the time being.
According to a report by The Athletic, the British government has given the go-ahead for the sale of Chelsea FC. This is said to be the result of government talks with US bank Raine, which is set to handle the sale because the process began before Abramovich was sanctioned.
Britain imposed the measures on billionaire Abramovich over Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The mobile phone company Three also asked to suspend the contract until further notice and to remove the company logo from the jerseys and advertising boards. Chelsea are currently only allowed to continue playing thanks to a special license from the British government. Those responsible were in talks with the government to ease the sanctions.
According to the license granted, “football-related activities” are permitted. 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). The club is losing important income as a result of the sales stop for further tickets and merchandising. (dpa)