ROMAN Abramovich has been BANNED from selling Chelsea after being slapped with sanctions today for being a Putin crony.
The club was thrown into limbo this morning after the oligarch had his assets frozen and blocked from visiting or doing business in Britain.
Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK
Abramovich bought this mansion at Kensington Palace Gardens in 2009 for £90m – it is now worth at least £125m, according to local estate agents Credit: SWNS
he billionaire is a pal of warmonger Vladimir Putin
Chelsea has been granted a special licence by the government to continue playing, allowing tonight’s match against Norwich to kick off.
Fans who already have tickets will still be able to attend games, but the club is banned from selling any more tickets.
However The Sun understands Chelsea can still release tickets to rival clubs so their away fans can come to matches.
Chelsea is also forbidden from selling any club merchandise from its official stores. Strips can still be bought from shops like JD Sports but the club cannot get a cut.
Some of their only remaining sources of cash will be selling pies and burgers to fans at Stamford Bridge and the broadcasting rights.
Under a cloud of Putin cronyism Abramovic put the club on the marketlast week and vowed to put the proceeds towards the Ukrainian conflict.
Today’s fresh round of sanctions will prevent a sale from happening unless ministers specifically allow it.
The Government “is open” to a sale but is clear Abramovich will not get a penny.
Under the terms of the licence – which expires on May 31 – players and staff can still be paid but Abramovich is barred from pumping anymore money into the club, leaving its future uncertain.
It will likely mean an effective salary freeze for stars who will not be awarded new contracts.
The club also has a £20,000 travel cap per game, meaning players and coaching staff could have to slum it rather than take private jets.
As Chelsea’s future is unclear:
- Chelsea has been slapped with transfer BAN after Roman Abramovich was today sanctioned
- Chelsea’s clash with Norwich WILL go ahead
- The team has been banned from selling home and away tickets for matches
- The club only found out its owner had been sanctioned at 9am this morning
- The billionaire Russian oligarch is among seven Putin cronies sanctioned amid the Ukraine crisis
Abramovich is among seven Putin cronies sanctioned today to keep twisting the thumbscrews on Russia for waging a cruel war on Ukraine.
He has a net worth of £9.4billion and a sprawling property portfolio in Britain – which he can no longer visit after being hit with a travel ban.
Abramovich’s colossal Eclipse sails into New York harbour
The sanctions effectively ban him from selling the club
Credit: Getty
