The sanctioning of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich means that the club’s fans can no longer buy tickets to attend games.
See below as Dan Roan of the BBC explains what this development means for the Blues, who are allowed to carry on the day to day running of the club, with their matches still able to continue.
Aim is to ensure RA is not able to make any money or benefit from Chelsea FC so sale of club now on hold.
Season ticket holders can still attend games they have tickets for but club cannot now sell any more tickets that haven’t been sold already
Merchandise shop will be closed— Dan Roan (@danroan) March 10, 2022
However, only season ticket holders can attend Chelsea games, and club merchandise shops have ceased operating so that Abramovich can no longer benefit financially from his ownership of the west London giants.
The government have sanctioned a number of Russian oligarchs amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and Abramovich had been trying to sell Chelsea.
Boris Johnson's statement on sanctioning Abramovich & 6 other UK-linked Russian oligarchs: "There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine. Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people."
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) March 10, 2022
It now seems he’ll be unable to do so as his assets have been frozen, putting the Blues into a strange state of limbo.
Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and the money he’s invested in the club has given them huge amounts of success in the last two decades.
The hypocrisy of British government is beyond words… This news just made me hate Britain government today… one day they will be held accountable for all their stealings