Amidst the war between Russia and Ukraine, the owner of Chelsea football club, Roman Abramovich has stated that he has put the club up for sale.
In a statement released on the club’s website, the Russian owner of the football club stated that the sale of the club would follow due process. He further noted that the sale of the club was in the best interest of Chelsea FC, its fans, sponsors and other stakeholders of the club.
He said, “I would like to address the speculation in the media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC. As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the Club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the Club, the fans the employees, as well as the Club’s sponsors and partners.
“The sale of the Club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club.”
Abramovich further stated that he has instructed his team to ensure that all net proceeds of the sale go to victims of the war in Ukraine.
He said, “Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long term work of recovery.
“Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the Club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the Club.
“I hope I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge on last time to say goodbye to all of you in person. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements. Chelsea Football Club and its supporters will always be in my heart.”
This comes after Abramovich, handed over the “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to the trustees of its charitable foundation. This was announced in a statement posted on the website of the European champions on Saturday.
Moreso, in the wake of the Ukraine invasion by Russia, the owner of Chelsea Football Club was barred from living in the United Kingdom. The UK government claimed that Abramovich was named by Members of Parliament as being one of 35 oligarchs identified by the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, as one of the ‘key enablers’ of the ‘kleptocracy’ run by the country’s president, Vladimir Putin.
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The Russian-Jewish billionaire owner of Chelsea football club, Roman Abramovich, has flown to Tel Aviv after being found eligible for Israeli citizenship, BBC reports.
Immigration officials told the BBC that he was interviewed last week at the Israeli embassy in Moscow. He has faced delays in renewing his UK visa.
His spokesman would not comment on reports citizenship had been granted.
Mr Abramovich, 51, would be the richest person in Israel.
His UK investor visa reportedly expired some weeks ago but the British government has refused to comment on his individual case.
The delay in issuing him a new one comes amid increased diplomatic tensions between London and Moscow after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in southern England.
Mr Abramovich did not attend the FA cup final at Wembley earlier this month when Chelsea beat Manchester United.
Israeli media reports say he has been given an identity card in Israel under the Law of Return, which allows Jews to become citizens of Israel.
The Times of Israel said the interior ministry had confirmed Mr Abramovich arrived in Israel on Monday and that he had emigrated to the country.
He is a frequent visitor to Israel and bought a hotel in Tel Aviv in 2015 that reports say he has turned into a residence.
Israel passport holders are allowed to enter Britain without a visa for short stays.
Mr Abramovich is worth $11.5bn (£8.6bn), according to Forbes magazine. The move could pay off financially as new Israeli citizens are exempt from paying tax on foreign income for 10 years.
WHO IS ROMAN ABRAMOVICH?
Mr Abramovich, one of Russia’s richest people, bought Chelsea FC in 2003
He reportedly sold dolls before making his fortune in oil in the 1990s after the collapse of the former Soviet Union
Mr Abramovich was a one-time business partner of the late tycoon Boris Berezovky, an associate of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin
Critics say the two businessmen used their Kremlin “family” ties to acquire key state companies for below market value
Mr Abramovich served as governor of Russia’s Chukotka region
He is believed to be close to current Russian President Vladimir Putin