Latest news with #Sanctioned
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Russian tycoon Abramovich ‘done' with professional football
Russian businessman Roman Abramovich has said he no longer intends to be involved in professional football or own any club again, according to a new book excerpt cited by the Daily Mail. Abramovich was forced to sell the football club Chelsea to a US-led consortium shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. The UK government imposed sanctions on him in March 2022 over his alleged Kremlin ties. The tycoon has denied the allegations and acted as a mediator between Moscow and Kiev on several occasions. In an interview with Nick Purewal, the author of a book titled 'Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC', Abramovich confirmed he has 'no interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role.' 'As for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime,' he was cited as saying. He added that he still wishes to attend a Chelsea match in the future 'to say a proper goodbye,' but reiterated he has no plans for further involvement in the sport. However, he expressed a willingness to support initiatives for underprivileged youth if a meaningful opportunity arises. The British government has increased pressure on Abramovich to approve the release of the £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) proceeds from the Chelsea sale to Ukraine. Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned in a joint statement that the UK is prepared to take legal action if he does not authorize the transfer. 'The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine,' the statement read. While the money is frozen in a UK account, Abramovich remains its legal owner and must approve its distribution. According to The Guardian, officials have held extensive talks with Abramovich's legal team but have failed to resolve a 'fundamental disagreement' over how the funds should be used. Abramovich has insisted the proceeds be used to assist victims of the conflict on both sides, not exclusively Ukraine.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Abramovich hopes for 'proper goodbye'
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich says he wants to return to Stamford Bridge for "a proper goodbye", in his first interview since sanctions forced him to sell the club in oligarch, who the UK Government allege has strong links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has not spoken since the sale of Chelsea and his last known interview was with Forbes in March an interview in Abu Dhabi in February for the book "Sanctioned" by Nick Purewal, Abramovich ruled out re-investing in Chelsea or, indeed, any other football club. But he said he wants to return to Stamford Bridge someday. "Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that," he is quoted as saying. He added: "I don't have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role."Abramovich also says he still wants a resolution to the war in Ukraine, insisting his efforts to act as a peacekeeper in talks in Turkey in 2022 were is the first time he has spoken since he sold Chelsea for £2.5bn to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who have overseen two underwhelming years before finishing fourth this season to qualify for the Champions League and winning the Conference League. Boehly, who also part-owns successful baseball franchise the LA Dodgers and basketball team the LA Lakers, said in the book: "If you look at our ambitions for the Dodgers and for the Lakers, you're here to win, and it's our business to win; and we're doing everything we can do to win. "Our goal with Chelsea is also to win silverware, because we know, and I know, how much it means to the fans. It makes you appreciate again that sport makes people happy, especially when you win. And Chelsea is supposed to win. "But I really believe that sustained success is an investment, and no matter what business I'm in, or any industry, there are no shortcuts."Meanwhile, Abramovich's comments have emerged just a week after the UK government threatened to sue him, with proceeds from the sale of the club still stuck in a frozen bank account. The UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but "all victims of the war in Ukraine".Chelsea are also under investigation by the Premier League for alleged irregular payments from Abramovich-era transfer activity.
Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Times
Roman Abramovich talks about enforced Chelsea sale for first time
Roman Abramovich has given his first interview since his enforced sale of Chelsea for a new book that is being published next month — and told its author that no questions were off limits in their conversations. The 58-year-old Russian-born billionaire spent many hours with Nick Purewal, the writer of Sanctioned, over two days both this year and last year to give his inside view of the sale of the club. Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government in March 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine because of his alleged links with Vladimir Putin. Abramovich denies any political connection to Putin. He was allowed to sell the club in May that year to the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital on the condition that the money raised by the sale would be used to help the victims of the war. However the £2.3billion remains frozen in his company's bank account because of a dispute with the government. 'I interviewed him first in January 2024 in Istanbul and then earlier this year in Abu Dhabi,' Purewal told The Times. 'I spent several hours with him on both occasions. 'He was very open, he didn't make anything off limits in terms of what was asked — though of course he couldn't answer everything and he had to be very delicate with things around the war. 'He was very open, very engaging, very friendly. It is also remarkable that he is quite introverted and quite shy — yet you also get glimpses of why he has been so successful.' Purewal said that Abramovich also provided insight into how he came to buy Chelsea in the first place in 2003, as well as how the sale of the club unfolded three years ago and how Boehly and Clearlake won the race. Abramovich would not be drawn on the dispute over the release of the money to help victims of the war, nor would he comment on the Premier League's investigation into alleged irregular payments to agents during the years of his ownership, which were self-reported by the present Chelsea owners after their takeover. Purewal said the book, which will be published by Biteback Publishing on May 29, is not only about Abramovich but is an 'impartial account' of the takeover based on interviews with more than 50 people, including all the main protagonists in the deal. The interviews did cover Abramovich's efforts to be a facilitator in peace talks, Purewal said, and provide detail on his suspected poisoning at a meeting on the Ukraine-Belarus border a few weeks after the invasion. The £2.3billion from the sale of the club remains in a frozen UK bank account belonging to Fordstam Ltd, Abramovich's holding company. The government has said the dispute is a 'complex legal issue' and the delay has raised questions about what will happen to the money if there is a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia and sanctions are lifted.
Metro
23-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
Roman Abramovich set to break silence on £2.5 billion sale of Chelsea
Roman Abramovich is finally set to break his silence on the £2.5 billion sale of Chelsea to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital three years ago. The former Chelsea owner remains sanctioned by the Government due to his alleged links to controversial Russian president Vladimir Putin. Abramovich was a popular figure across his 19-year spell in west London, with the club enjoying unprecedented success under his ownership. The 58-year-old Russian owned Chelsea from 2003 to 2022, with the Blues winning two Champions League titles and five Premier League trophies. Abramovich sold Chelsea to American consortium BlueCo – led by Boehly and Clearlake Capital – after he was sanctioned by the Government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. He has now spoken for the first time about his sale of the club in a book called 'Sanctioned' by Nick Purewal, which will be released this summer. Abramovich has not publicly addressed the sale of Chelsea to date and it's extremely rare for the billionaire to take part in interviews of any kind. Chelsea are yet to win any trophies since BlueCo replaced Abramovich and some of the club's fans have expressed anger towards their new owners. In March 2024, a section of Chelsea supporters launched a 'get them out' campaign against Boehly and Clearlake Capital. BlueCo completely rebuilt Chelsea's squad after Abramovich's exit, replacing a number of established stars with young wonderkids on massive contracts, spending over £1 billion on new players. They sacked head coach Thomas Tuchel in 2022, a decision which left many fans unhappy after he led Chelsea to Champions League glory. Tuchel was replaced by Graham Potter in a failed experiment and the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino didn't work out either but Chelsea have since enjoyed somewhat of an upturn since Enzo Maresca came in. Maresca is hoping to guide Chelsea back into the Premier League top four this term after they finished 12th and sixth in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Chelsea currently sit sixth again in the current 2024-25 campaign, three points off the top four with five top-flight fixtures remaining. More Trending The Blues are the favourites to win this season's Conference League title, with Chelsea set to face Djurgårdens IF in the semi-finals next month. Last month, meanwhile, The Chelsea Supporters' Trust called for the Premier League to investigate Boehly due to his connection with ticket resale site Vivid Seats. The company is called an 'unauthorised ticket website' by the Premier League, with fans warned to 'exercise extreme caution' if they use the website. The US organisation sells Premier League tickets, often for much greater than face value. MORE: Dean Huijsen 'seriously considering' one offer amid Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool interest MORE: Man Utd told 'throwback' £30m striker would suit them 'down to the ground' MORE: Chelsea set Christopher Nkunku asking price after Bayern Munich and Man Utd transfer links
