Days before the entry into force of the greater sanctions, Abramovic put Chelsea up for sale, although the operation was frozen by the authorities. In addition, access to the stadium was restricted and the sponsors are analyzing cutting ties with the organization.
Abramovic acquired the team from one of London’s wealthiest neighborhoods in 2003 and, after an injection of 1.5 billion pounds (41 billion pesos), took it from being a club with mixed results to one of the most successful in the world. English and European football in recent years. Currently, Chelsea is the reigning champion of the Champions League, the most important club tournament on the planet, and the Club World Cup. The women’s Chelsea, also champion of its category, suffers from the affectation.
The most recent wave of sanctions from the British government, which targets the hundreds of Russian millionaires who have assets in the UK, prevents them from enjoying their benefits.
On the official site of Chelsea, the sale of tickets for the following matches of the English Premier League is suspended.
Team merchandise is also cancelled. The club’s online store is disabled and logging in displays the message: “Due to the latest government announcements, the Official Chelsea Online Megastore will be offline until further notice.”
Although the largest source of income for English teams is broadcasting rights, the ban on the sale of tickets and merchandise will take its toll on the finances of one of the most expensive football payrolls on the planet, valued at 883 million euros, of according to the specialized site Transfermarkt.