Chelsea FC joins Everton FC and Manchester United in cutting ties with Russian sponsorships.
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has announced he will sell Chelsea Football Club, a team he’s owned since 2003. The sale comes after British Labor MP Chris Bryant called out the billionaire for allegedly having links to the Russian state’s “corrupt activity.”
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“As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation,” Abramovich said on Chelsea FC’s website. “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.”
Passion not money
The largest shareholder of Russia’s second-largest steelmaker Evraz, Abramovich, said the sale currently has no timetable. The 55-year-old adds that he won’t require the Premier League team loan repayments.
The sale proceeds will also go to Ukraine’s victims from Russia’s ongoing military attacks.
“This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club,” Abramovich continued.
“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.”
Cutting ties
Other Premier League teams are also cutting ties with Russia. Last Wednesday, Liverpool’s Everton FC suspended their sponsorships from companies USM, Megafon, and Yota. And on February 28, Manchester United ended its £40 million sponsorship deal with Russia’s national airline Aeroflot.
Banner photo from @cfc_addiction_kr on Instagram.
