Chelsea owner Abramovich sanctioned by UK Government leading to uncertainty over sale of world champions
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Loading... - Rogers Griffiths
- 11 Mar 2022
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Abramovich announced last week the club was up for sale, just days after he attempted to give trustees of Chelsea's charitable foundation, including British Olympic Association chairman Sir Hugh Robertson, stewardship and care of the club.
The move was considered by many to have been linked to the threat of potential sanctions.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, the official opposition in the UK Parliament, had questioned last week why Abramovich had not been sanctioned declaring that he had been a person of interest to the Home Office because of "his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices".
Abramovich is one of seven additional people to have been sanctioned by the UK Government today, with his assets having been frozen, a prohibition placed on transactions with UK individuals and businesses, and a travel ban and transport sanctions imposed.
"Abramovich is associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom Abramovich has had a close relationship for decades," the sanctions list reads.
"This association has included obtaining a financial benefit or other material benefit from Putin and the Government of Russia.
"This includes tax breaks received by companies linked to Abramovich, buying and selling shares from and to the state at favourable rates, and the contracts received in the run up to the FIFA 2018 World Cup.
"Therefore, Abramovich has received preferential treatment and concessions from Putin and the Government of Russia."
The UK Government claims Abramovich is also associated to former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Alisher Usmanov, both sanctioned on March 3.
Usmanov stepped down as International Fencing Federation President after being hit by sanctions from the European Union, which he has vowed to challenge.
The UK Government has claimed the Chelsea owner has been involved in "destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, via Evraz PLC, a steel manufacturing and mining company in which Abramovich has a significant shareholding and over which Abramovich exercises effective control". Read More...
