Chelsea's Roman Abramovich among Russians hit by UK sanctions

UK government says it will enable the club to continue playing matches and engage in other footballing activities

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Britain said on Thursday it had imposed asset freezes on seven Russian businessmen, including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

Igor Sechin, Oleg Deripaska and Dmitri Lebedev have also been added to the country's sanctions list.

There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Vladimir Putin’s "vicious assault on Ukraine", British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

Mr Abramovich is the billionaire owner of Chelsea football club, Mr Deripaska has stakes in En+ Group, Mr Sechin is the chief executive of Rosneft and Mr Lebedev is chairman of the board of directors of Bank Rossiya.

The UK government said it would enable Chelsea to continue playing matches and engage in other footballing activities after the move to freeze assets.

"The licence will be kept under constant review and we will work closely with the football authorities," the government said.

Described as a pro-Kremlin oligarch, Mr Abramovich was hit with an asset freeze and a travel ban in an updated sanctions list published on Thursday after ministers came under sustained pressure to target him.

The government document says he has had a "close relationship for decades" with the Russian president.

"This association has included obtaining a financial benefit or other material benefit from Putin and the government of Russia," it says.

The sale of Chelsea Football Club has been put on hold after sanctions were placed on owner Roman Abramovich. Reuters.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said Mr Putin’s attacks on Ukraine involved “new levels of evil by the hour” and the government had announced further sanctions “against individuals linked to the Russian government”.

“This list includes Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club,” she said.

She acknowledged that this would have an effect on the premiership side but that a special licence would enable it to continue operating.

Mr Abramovich has owned Chelsea since 2003 and has always staunchly denied any current political links to Russia’s ruling elite.

The 55-year-old put Chelsea up for sale on March 2 in the wake of Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. However, the move to freeze Mr Abramovich's assets means the sale is now on hold, leaving the club in financial limbo.

British billionaire Nick Candy had been the latest high-profile business magnate to throw their hat into the ring for Chelsea’s sale, amid a host of suitors for the Champions League holders.

Swiss tycoon Hansjorg Wyss and American investor Todd Boehly were also in the running, with more than 10 credible parties understood to have been compiling bids.

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  1) League Cup, February 2005: Chelsea won their first trophy under Roman Abramovich by defeating Liverpool 3-2 after extra time in the 2003 League Cup final. John Arne Riise scored early for Liverpool before a Steven Gerrard own goal sent the game into extra time. Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman made it 3-1 to Chelsea and Antonio Nunez pulled one back for Liverpool. The Abramovich era had begun. AFP

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  2) Premier League, 2004/05: Jose Mourinho lived up to his self-appointed 'Special One' tag by guiding Chelsea to their first Premier League title and first top-flight title in 50 years. The Blues marched away with the league, finishing 12 points clear and losing just once. AFP

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  3) Premier League 2005/06: Back-to-back titles for the Blues who were once again head and shoulders above their rivals, finishing eight points ahead of runners-up Manchester United. Getty Images

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  4) League Cup, February 2007: Trophy No 4 was delivered at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 in the final. Theo Walcott put the Gunners in front but a Drogba double ensured the Blues emerged victorious. AFP

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  5) FA Cup, May 2007: Chelsea missed out on the league title but finished the season with the Cup double, beating Manchester United 1-0 after extra time, courtesy of another Drogba goal. AFP

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  6) FA Cup, May 2009: Interim manager Guus Hiddink left his mark on Chelsea by guiding the club to an FA Cup triumph. After falling behind to a first-minute Louis Saha goal, Chelsea fought back through Drogba and Frank Lampard to defeat Everton 2-1. AFP

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  7) Premier League, 2009/2010: After three years without a league title, Chelsea came roaring back to win the 2010 trophy. Following the dogged and pragmatic style under Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti got the team playing with flair as the Blues scored 103 goals and won the title by one point ahead of Manchester United. AFP

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  8) FA Cup, May 2010: Chelsea successfully defended the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth. No prizes for guessing the matchwinner as Drogba struck to secure the double. AFP

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  9) FA Cup, May 2012: After the ill-fated spell of Andre Villas-Boas, former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo came in to steady the ship. Steady the ship he did as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup final. Ramires and Drogba scored Chelsea's goals before Andy Carroll pulled one back for Liverpool. AFP

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  10) Uefa Champions League, May 2012: The 10th trophy under Abramovich and the one the Russian craved above all others. Chelsea were crowned European champions in improbable style, riding their luck to defeat Bayern Munich on penalties inside the German club's own stadium. Drogba's header levelled five minutes after Thomas Muller had put Bayern in the lead to force extra time, where Arjen Robben then missed a penalty. It was then left to the main man Drogba to seal it from the penalty spot. AFP

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  11) Uefa Europa League, May 2013: A disappointing Champions League campaign saw Chelsea drop into the Europa League, but the Blues made their superiority count in Europe's second-tier tournament. Fernando Torres gave Chelsea the lead in the final, before Oscar Cardozo equalised from the spot. Branislav Ivanovic secured the trophy with the winner in injury time. AFP

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  12) League Cup, March 2015: The return of Mourinho brought with it more domestic success, starting with a third League Cup under Abramovich. Chelsea claimed a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the final, John Terry and Diego Costa with the goals. AFP

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  13) Premier League, 2014/15: Mourinho secured a double as Chelsea won their first league title in five years. It was a convincing season for the Blues, who finished eight points clear of runners-up Manchester City. AFP

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  14) Premier League, 2016/17: Antonio Conte announced himself to English football with a remarkable debut season as Chelsea manager, guiding the club to the title and a then record 30 league wins. The Blues were seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham. AFP

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  15) FA Cup, May 2018: Two seasons, two trophies for Conte as Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final, Eden Hazard scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot. It proved Conte's last game in charge. AFP

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  16) Uefa Europa League, 2018/19: Maurizio Sarri's brief time in charge is not remembered all that fondly but the Italian did deliver silverware with an emphatic 4-1 win over rivals Arsenal in the final after goals from Olivier Giroud, Pedro and a Hazard double. Alex Iwobi grabbed a consolation for Arsenal. AFP

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  17) Uefa Champions League, May 2021: Thomas Tuchel wrote his name into Chelsea folklore by guiding the club to the Champions League title just five months after taking charge. Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game against a much-favoured Manchester City side. AFP

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  18) Fifa Club World Cup, February 2022: As part of the privilege of being European champions, Chelsea competed in the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last month. The Blues lived up to their billing, defeating Palmeiras 2-1 after extra time in the final. Romelu Lukaku put Chelsea ahead only for Raphael Veiga to level from the spot. Havertz then converted a penalty deep in extra time to clinch it. If being crowned world champions proves to be the final achievement of Abramovich's era, it is a fitting tribute. AFP