Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK parliament for his ties to Vladimir Putin. Following the armed invasion of Ukraine by the Russians, the government has clamped down on the oligarch and has seized his assets, which includes the West London club.
And now, the Premier League board has disqualified Abramovich as a director of Chelsea. The club has been put up for sale, and will now go through after Roman Abramovich agreed to comply with the government sanctions.
Premier League disqualifies Roman Abramovich as Chelsea director
Here is what the league said in an official statement: ‘Following the imposition of sanctions by the UK Government, the Premier League Board has disqualified Roman Abramovich as a Director of Chelsea Football Club.
‘The Board’s decision does not impact on the club’s ability to train and play its fixtures, as set out under the terms of a license issued by the Government which expires on 31 May 2022.’
After initial reports that Abramovich might be sanctioned, the Russian handed over the control of the club to its stewards. The billionaire later put Chelsea up for sale, after releasing an official statement saying it was in the best interests of everyone involved.
He also stated officially that the proceeds from the sale would go towards benefiting those suffering from the violence in Ukraine. With several bidders willing to meet the asking price of over £2 billion, it is only a matter of time before Abramovich is officially replaced as the owner of the Blues.
