Chelsea Hit With £10m Fine Over Agent Rule Violations

Chelsea Hit With £10m Fine Over Agent Rule Violations

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The UK government imposed sanctions on Abramovich in March 2022 over his alleged connections to Russian president Vladimir Putin, claims he has rejected.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, he received a special licence permitting him to sell Chelsea on the condition that he could demonstrate he would not profit from the transaction.

The 59-year-old pledged that the sale proceeds would be distributed through a foundation to support all those affected by the war in Ukraine, including people in Russia.

The £2.5bn generated by the sale has remained frozen in a UK bank account. Although Abramovich cannot access the funds, he continues to be their legal owner.

Leaked records disclosed in 2023 reportedly traced financial links between Abramovich and two individuals described as financial proxies for Putin.

The documents, obtained through an international investigation involving several investigative journalism organisations, reportedly offered fresh evidence connecting the former Chelsea owner to an undisclosed £26m transaction completed in 2010.

Abramovich has repeatedly denied having any financial ties to the Russian president.

In June, the UK government warned that it could take legal action against Abramovich to ensure the Chelsea sale proceeds were directed specifically towards humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, rather than to all people affected by the conflict as he had proposed.

Two months before Chelsea was sold in May 2022, Abramovich was reported to have experienced symptoms of suspected poisoning while attending peace negotiations near the Ukraine-Belarus border.

The Russian billionaire, who accumulated his wealth through the oil and gas industries, was reportedly acting as an intermediary in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

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