The UK government has sanctioned Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich as part of its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He is one of seven oligarchs who have been sanctioned with new measures including asset freezes and travel bans.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“there can be no safe havens” for those who have supported the invasion.
“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people,” Mr Johnson said.
“We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”
Chelsea can keep paying their players and employees.
Chelsea can continue to pay all of its employees’ salaries under the terms of the licence. For Danny Drinkwater and Baba Rahman, this is fantastic news.
Chelsea is unable to sign fresh players.
The club is basically shut out of the transfer market. The Blues are unable to sign new permanent or loan players.
The next transfer window isn’t for another three and a half months, so this could alter before the summer. It’s possible but quite unlikely.
It also signifies that selling is forbidden.
Chelsea is unable to extend the contracts of its players.
These actions strike at their hopes of maintaining Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta.
At the end of their current contracts in the summer, all three were scheduled to become free agents. Chelsea cannot enter into a new contract with those players or anyone else who is out of contract at the conclusion of the season due to the conditions of the licence.
All three appeared to be on their way out anyway, but recent developments appear to have dashed any aspirations the Blues had of keeping its three defenders.
Saul Niguez, meanwhile, will return to Atletico Madrid at the end of his loan. That was virtually surely going to happen in the first place.
There will be no ticket sales to supporters.
Under the conditions of the licence, only Chelsea season ticket holders and those who have already purchased match tickets prior to today can attend games.
Away fans are subject to the same limitations, however, they may be able to get past them by purchasing tickets directly from their team.
Chelsea are allowed to spend a maximum of £500,000 per fixture on ‘security, catering and stewarding’.
There will be no merchandise sales by the club.
The Chelsea megastore’s entrance has been marked as “closed,” but “third parties that acquired or produced club products prior to March 10 are entitled to sell existing stocks on the condition that no funds or other financial benefits are made available to the club or Abramovich.”
Chelsea has the ability to pay any outstanding transfer payments.
The Blues can’t get out of their prior signings’ financial responsibilities.
