Roman Abramovich had understood it for several days: the war in Ukraine sounded the end of his adventure at the head of Chelsea. The oligarch then tried to save what could be saved by handing over the management of the club to the six administrators of his charitable foundation, also announcing that he wanted to sell Chelsea by donating the “net proceeds” of this sale to a foundation for the benefit of the victims. of the war.
But now the British government has taken drastic measures intended to penalize the Russian economy: the assets of seven oligarchs, including Abramovich, have been frozen. Foreign Minister Liz Truss did not hesitate to describe these oligarchs as “kleptocrats who have no place in our economy or our society. Their close ties to Putin make them complicit in his aggression.”
A ban on transactions with individuals and companies, as well as a travel ban, have also been decreed. In other words, the sale of the club is suspended and no transfer or contract can be negotiated (defenders Azpilicueta, Rüdiger and Christensen are notably out of contract). Ticket sales are also at a standstill and only club subscribers will be able to attend the last matches of the season.
According to our colleagues from L’Equipe, the club’s players and staff learned the news on the bus taking them to Norwich for their match on Thursday evening. All these little people, caught off guard, then solicited by telephone the headquarters of the club where astonishment also reigned. It is therefore in the most total vagueness that the Blues went to win this Thursday evening (1-3). What consolidate their podium in the championship while the sportsman has passed into the background in recent hours although Tuchel affirms “Not being sure to be worried”.
Towards bankruptcy before the end of the season?
The club must also cap its travel expenses at 20,000 pounds (24,000 euros). The bus trip to Norwich was probably not the last of the season for the players.
“Three UK”, the shirt sponsor of the Londoners, also chose the day Thursday to announce its withdrawal. A partnership at 47 million euros per season that falls through. And it is already rumored that the other sponsors (Nike, Hyundai, Zapp…) will follow.
A very black picture which pushes several British tabloids to evoke an inevitable bankruptcy. The Sun even gives a maximum period of 81 days for the sale of the club to be recorded, otherwise it will be too late. And the financial pressure only adds to the moral pressure since the club’s rating is undermined across the Channel. The Telegraph published an editorial calling for the club’s relegation to the Championship.
If Chelsea have reacted to the measures taken against them by saying they want to negotiate with the government, this should above all concern the sale of the club which could be authorized on the condition that no profit is made, according to the statement of a holder. government word. Anyway, only this sale seems to be able to unlock the other sanctions.
Abramovich will have to act quickly to find an agreement with the government, then a candidate buyer who will necessarily be in a position of strength in the negotiations. Because every day spent without income is a day that brings his club closer to filing for bankruptcy.
