Chelsea have had several accounts temporarily frozen while banks assess the Stamford Bridge club’s new operating licence.
Owner Abramovich’s government sanctions have frozen all the billionaire’s UK assets barring Chelsea, with the club continuing to operate under special, stringent conditions.
File photo dated 30-04-2005 of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (R) celebrates with his players Frank Lampard and John Terry (L). Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich announces he is selling the club Issue date: Wednesday March 2, 2022.
Martin Rickett
Those new government regulations have seen activity suspended on several Chelsea accounts on a short-term basis, while more detail is sought on the Blues’ new licence, according to PA.
Roman Abramovich’s Government sanctions have frozen all the Russian-Israeli billionaire’s UK assets except Chelsea, but the Stamford Bridge club can only operate under stringent licence.
Chelsea are lobbying the Government for alterations to allow the Champions League holders to operate in as near normal fashion as possible.
The club have been blocked from selling tickets from March 10 under the current terms of that Government licence.
A security officer puts barricades outside Stamford Bridge, the stadium for Chelsea Football Club, after Britain imposed sanctions on its Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, in London, Britain, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
HANNAH MCKAY
But sports minister Nigel Huddleston is understood to have told a meeting of the Football Supporters’ Association on Thursday that the Government would be open to the idea of a return to ticket sales.
Abramovich has been sanctioned after the UK Government claimed to have proven the 55-year-old’s links to Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
The Chelsea owner denies any association with the Russian leader, but put the club up for sale on March 2 amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea’s long-term future is in doubt by Abramovich’s sanctions, but the Tory leadership could still oversee the club’s sale via a specific licence from the Treasury.
