LONDON, March 2 – Russian businessman Roman Abramovich said on Wednesday he would sell Chelsea football club 19 years after buying it and put the team on the road to sporting fame, and promised to donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.
Amid growing calls for Abramovich to be affected by sanctions following Russia’s invasion of his neighbor, the metal tycoon said in a statement that the sale was in the best interests of current European and world football champions.
“In the current situation, I decided to sell the club because I think it is in the best interests of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the sponsors and partners of the club,” he said.
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Abramovich has said he will not ask for loans he has given to the Premier League club – a total of £ 1.5 billion ($ 2.0 billion) – to be repaid and the sale will not be quick.
He told his aides to set up a charity that would receive all the net proceeds from the sale.
“The foundation will benefit all victims of the war in Ukraine,” Abramovich said in a statement.
“This includes providing critical resources for the urgent and urgent needs of victims, as well as supporting long-term recovery work.”
Swiss business mogul Hansjörg Vis told a newspaper that he was considering buying Chelsea from Abramovich, who said over the weekend that he was stepping down from the club, but did not mention plans to change ownership.
“Abramovich is currently trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly now. I, along with three others, received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich,” Blick was quoted as saying. Wyss in an interview published Wednesday. Read more
TORTURE OF TROPHIES
Abramovich bought the club from West London in 2003 for 140 million pounds and his investment contributed greatly to the most successful era in the history of the team, as they won five Premier League titles, five English Cups and twice the Champions League. .
His purchase of the club helped transform the English football landscape, with Chelsea breaking the grip of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
They beat Brazilian side Palmeiras last month to win the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time since beating Manchester City to become European champions last season.
The “seismic moment” was how BBC presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker described the announcement before the FA Cup fifth round match in Luton Town.
Chelsea fans on Kenilworth Road chanted the name of the Russian before the start.
The 55-year-old man, who has Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, has become one of Russia’s most influential businessmen, earning great fortunes since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Forbes estimates his net worth at $ 13.3 billion.
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Britain has imposed sanctions on 12 members of Russia’s and Belarusian elites, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and at least 12 banks and companies.
Britain’s Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday why there were no sanctions against the Chelsea owner. Speaking in parliament, Johnson said he could not go into detail.
But Foreign Minister Liz Truss warned that she had compiled a “list of killed” Russian oligarchs and said the government would impose new sanctions on them every few weeks.
The Financial Times says the government is also plotting to seize property owned by Russian oligarchs. Read more
However, David Davis, a veteran MP from Johnson’s ruling Conservative Party, said the sale should be blocked until Abramovich proves the source of his wealth.
“We must do everything we can to prevent him from selling off his assets in the United Kingdom,” Davis said on Twitter.
Abramovich said the decision to sell was incredibly difficult.
“I hope to be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you in person,” he said.
Abramovich turned his back on life in London in 2018, when the British government delayed the renewal of his visa after the assassination attempt on a former Russian double agent in England, whom Moscow blamed.
“It has been a lifelong privilege for me to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements,” he said.
“Chelsea Football Club and its supporters will always be in my heart.
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Report by William Schomberg; additional reports by Martin Herman and Kate Holton; Edited by Kate Holton and Ed Osmond
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