The blows continue to hit Chelsea's owner, Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, who has faced severe sanctions from the British government, leading other countries to adopt similar measures. Abramovich was one of seven Russian businessmen sanctioned by the British government due to the war in Ukraine and their proximity to President Vladimir Putin.
Last week, the Russian billionaire put Chelsea up for sale; however, the freezing of his assets in Britain and the sanctions imposed on him halted this process under the licensing conditions granted to the club, which has effectively come under British government control.
The latest setback for Abramovich came from the Australian government, which imposed sanctions on 33 Russians, including Chelsea's owner, as reported by the British newspaper "Daily Mail." Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated in a release, "We strongly support the recent announcements made by Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States regarding further restrictive measures against Russian individuals linked to the crisis."
Regarding the sanctions that continue to pursue Abramovich, the English Premier League announced on Saturday that its board of directors removed Abramovich from his position as chairman of Chelsea. The league's statement noted, "Following the imposition of sanctions by the British government, the board of directors of the Premier League has excluded Roman Abramovich from his role as chairman of Chelsea Football Club."
The statement added, "The board's decision will not impact the club's ability to train and play its matches as outlined in the license issued by the British government, which expires on May 31, 2022."
Additionally, news reports indicated that Chelsea would be giving up private jets and five-star hotels due to the sanctions imposed on Abramovich by the British government. The British newspaper "Mirror" reported that Chelsea is facing "financial insecurity" following the onset of the Russian military operation in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia and its businessmen.
A source told the newspaper that "the Blues" would now have to use low-cost airlines, such as "EasyJet," and players have been informed that there would be no travel on private jets or stays in five-star hotels in the near future. A club official said, "Considering the number of staff traveling with the club for each away game, the amount set (20,000 pounds) will not suffice to meet the standards that the players are used to."
It is noteworthy that all assets of the 55-year-old Russian billionaire were frozen in Britain last Thursday, and banks froze Chelsea's accounts and credit cards. Under the sanctions, the English club cannot operate as an institution, as it is no longer permitted to sell match tickets or merchandise, approve new financial transactions, or spend more than 20,000 pounds on out-of-town travel.
