Abramovich ‘selling UK homes as he’s TERRIFIED of being sanctioned’ amid calls for him to ‘lose control of Chelsea’
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is ’selling assets as he’s TERRIFIED of being sanctioned’ amid calls for him to ‘lose control of Chelsea’.
Labour MP Chris Bryant claims the oligarch is going to ‘sell his home tomorrow’ following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
And European Parliament president Roberta Metsola insists anyone with ties to Vladimir Putin should not be in control of sports clubs.
Abramovich denies he has close links to the Russian president.
He handed over stewardship of Chelsea to its charitable foundation at the weekend.
However, the claims the trustees will demand an ‘impenetrable indemnity policy’ before agreeing to Abramovich’s plan.
Saying the Blues owner is ‘terrified of being sanctioned’, Labour MP Bryant told the House of Commons: “I think we need to stand united, end of.
“But the Government has said that it wants to, quite rightly, sanction Duma members, and it wants to sanction members of the Russian Federation Council but it’s not been able to do so yet.
“Alisher Usmanov (the Everton owner) has already been sanctioned by the EU but not yet by the UK.
“But I suspect he’ll be pretty soon on a UK list and Everton should certainly be cutting ties with him already.
“Roman Abramovich, well I think he’s terrified of being sanctioned, which is why he’s already going to sell his home tomorrow, and sell another flat as well.
“My anxiety is that we’re taking too long about these things.”
Meanwhile, European Parliament president Metsola called for Russian oligarchs to be banned from controlling sports clubs.
Metsola said: “Putin’s oligarchs and those who bankroll him should no longer be able to use their purchasing power to hide behind a veneer of respectability in our cities, in our communities or in our sports clubs.”
Abramovich revealed on Saturday he was handing over ‘stewardship and care’ of Chelsea to the club’s charitable foundation.
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His statement read: "During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.
"I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.
“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans."