London, UK | AFP | The Premier League announced on Saturday that it had withdrawn Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich from his club manager’s permit after the British government’s freeze on his assets.
“Following sanctions imposed by the British government, the Premier League board of directors removed Roman Abramovich from his position as director of Chelsea Football Club,” wrote the organizer of the English championship.
This decision “has no impact on the club’s ability to train and play matches,” the brief statement read.
On Thursday, the British government announced new sanctions against several Russian businessmen, including millionaire Roman Abramovich, who has owned Chelsea since 2003 and whose assets were frozen.
This measure, taken on the basis of Abramovich’s alleged links with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the military invasion of Ukraine, was accompanied by an authorization by the club to continue its activity, but with important restrictions.
Chelsea cannot sell tickets for its matches, or merchandise, and cannot sign players or renew the contracts of its players on the payroll.
The sale of the club, decided by Abramovich before the freezing of its assets, could be carried out, but the government’s green light for the operation would be conditional on the oligarch not obtaining any benefit.
Abramovich promised during the announcement of the sale of the club, on March 2, that the money would go to a foundation to help the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Over the years, the 55-year-old Russian millionaire invested $1.96 billion in the club under his presidency, winning 19 titles.
