March 11 – Chelsea supporters have been urged to stop chanting the name of the club’s Russian oligarch owner Roman Abramovich who has been sanctioned by the UK government as part of its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While most other fans have been respectfully showing their support for Ukraine, Chelsea’s once again sang Abramovich’s name during the win at Norwich on Wednesday.
Chelsea have been transformed from also-rans to one of the most successful teams in the Europe during the two decades of Abramovich’s reign but now face an uncertain future.
British technology minister Chris Philp said fans need to remember Abramovich has close ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“I understand why Chelsea fans have some affection for him, but when the regime he is associated with is committing atrocities that is more important than football,” Philp told BBC radio.
“So I would ask them to think very carefully before doing that again because the barbaric acts of the Putin regime which Abramovich has supported is far more important than football.”
The sanctions imposed on Thursday mean Abramovich is currently unable to sell the club though a special licence granted by the government is allowing Chelsea to keep operating.
Philp says the terms of that licence could be altered to allow a sale to go through and that interested buyers can make a proposal to the government
“As the licence conditions are written today, the sale would not be allowed,” he told Sky News.
“However, if a buyer emerged it would be open to that buyer or to that football club to approach the government and ask for the conditions to be varied in a way that allows that sale to take place.”
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