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Journalism of Courage
Labour MP Chris Bryant urged the British government on Friday to seize the assets of Russian billionaire and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, citing concerns about alleged links to corruption.
Abramovich was identified by the Home Office in 2019 as having links to the Russian state as well as to “corrupt activity and practices”, Bryant said, suggesting the UK should seize his assets and bar him from owning the football club.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Bryant urged the government to remove Abramovich’s ownership of Chelsea and seize his assets. According to the Guardian, raising the issue of tier 1 visas, the sort held by Abramovich, Bryant said, “As part of HMG’s [Her Majesty’s Government] Russia strategy aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity, Abramovich remains of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices.”
“An example of this is Abramovich admitting in court proceedings that he paid for political influence. Therefore HMG is focused on ensuring individuals linked to illicit finance and malign activity are unable to base themselves in the UK and will use the relevant tools at its disposal, including immigration powers to prevent this’.”
Bryant said that the document had been produced three years ago. “Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country? Surely we should be looking at seizing some of his assets including his £152m home?”
In 2018, Mr Abramovich experienced delays when applying to extend his visa to stay in the UK and eventually withdrew his application. In 2021, the businessman’s spokesperson confirmed he travelled to London as an Israeli citizen, therefore entering the United Kingdom without the need for a visa.
Abramovich is one of Russia’s richest people and is believed to be close to President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this week, the UK government announced it would impose sanctions on three billionaires with close links to Putin.
Tuchel says minds ‘clouded’ ahead of Liverpool clash due to recent developments
Thomas Tuchel, the German manager of last season’s Champions League winners Chelsea, said that he along with his players are concerned and even distracted by the recent mention of Abramovich in the parliament.
Addressing the media ahead of their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday, Tuchel was quoted by Guadian as saying, “I am aware of all these scenarios and I am aware of all these discussions at the moment. I would love to take my right not to comment on this until there is a decision made. But we are aware of it and it’s distracting us, it’s worrying us. To a certain degree I can understand the opinions and the critical opinions towards the club, towards us who represent that club. I can understand that and we cannot fully free ourselves from it.”
“At the moment we don’t feel responsible for all this. We feel that it is horrible and there can be no doubt about it. War in Europe was unthinkable for me for a long period. The impact is clear and the discussions have an impact.”
Taking harsh questions, Tuchel accepted that the recent developments in Ukraine has left their minds ‘clouded’, taking away the excitement from the upcoming final. “It’s pretty unreal, it’s clouding our minds, it’s clouding excitement towards the final and it brings huge uncertainty. Much more to all people and families who are actually more involved than us. And our best wishes and our regards and thoughts are obviously with them.
“I think the situation is too big and it is not an isolated situation somewhere. It concerns Europe, it’s in Europe and we are part of Europe. We cannot say let’s put this to the side. It’s the opposite. We have to live with it right now. There is no running away from it.
Chelsea won the prestigious UEFA Champions League title and this month added the Club World Cup to its trophy cabinet. The club sits third in the U.K. Premier League table.
Possibility of Chelsea sale keeps suitors on alert
Meanwhile, sports investors and private equity firms, including some from the U.S are on alert in case there is a possible sale of the English club by Abramovich.
According to Bloomberg who spoke to a lawyer Stacy Keen, sanctioned individuals wouldn’t be able to sell their U.K. assets, which would be frozen. Bloomberg also spoke to Jeff Moorad, whose MSP Sports Capital invested in McLaren Racing, who said that American investors would show ‘significant’ interest in Chelsea if it came up for sale and that the club is ‘one of the true global brands.’
Chelsea is valued at about 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion), according to KPMG, meaning a takeover could be one of the largest in the European game. By comparison, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund last year bought Newcastle United FC in a deal valuing the club at 305 million pounds ($409 million).
