For the passionate supporters of Chelsea, the new couldn’t have come at a more complicated time. Given that pressure was already mounting to do so, the UK Government finally decided to add Roman Abramovich to their list of sanctioned oligarchs, spiralling the football club into an incredibly difficult situation.
The conflict in Ukraine has undoubtedly shocked all of us, as we watch the Russian invasion of this country unfold on our TV screen and social network feeds.
During an emotional interview with Sky Sports, former Ukraine and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko expressed concerns for his family members, who are stuck at his house in the capital of Kyiv, unable to leave due to fierce battles being fought close to the city.
Shevchenko passionately urged Russians to stop the war, speaking in their native tongue and encouraging them to protest against the regime led by Vladimir Putin, hoping that a peaceful resolution can be found. Beforehand, he also suggested that given the conflict, no Russians can possibly be allowed to participate in any sports, suggesting they should all be banned as part of the sanctions levied internationally.
Little did Shevchenko know at the time, the UK Government would levy stiff sanctions against Abramovic, who has owned Chelsea Football Club since June 2003.
On 26th February 2022, Abramovic attempted to hand stewardship of the club to the Chelsea Charitable Foundation, then on 2nd February 2022, the confirmation came that he would attempt to sell the club, insisting that all proceeds from the sale would go to those affected by the conflict.
Nevertheless, on 10th March 2022, the UK Government finally reached the decision to freeze all of Abramovich’s assets within the United Kingdom, including his ownership of Chelsea.
This inevitably led to a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding the club, despite some interested parties already investigating the prospect of a takeover. Finally, on 10th March, the Premier League announced they had also disqualified Abramovic from being a director at Chelsea.
All of this news brought understandable panic to employees at Chelsea, and legions of unsettled fans of the Blues, all wondering what would happen amidst the punishing sanctions levied on the club. During the last three weeks and particularly following these sanctions, the entire future of the football club itself has been doubted.
On the same day the UK Government issued the sanctions, Chelsea played away and secured an important 1-3 win at Norwich City, while sections of the visiting supporters were roundly criticised by rivals and the wider media, having expressed their support for Abramovic.
Given all the success enjoyed by the club, this was hardly surprising, albeit perhaps not the most tactful of responses by fans during that game.
Exquisite! 🤩#CheNew pic.twitter.com/w7p59beEFV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 13, 2022
Amidst the subsequent news that all transfer and contract activity had been frozen, while matchday and even travel expenses were severely limited, the future of Chelsea looked very bleak indeed.
Meanwhile, the narrow 1-0 victory against Newcastle United was perhaps an additional dose of irony, given the recent Saudi Arabian takeover of the Magpies, who could be on the rise eventually while Chelsea face an uncertain future.
In the Middle East, investment in football has boomed over the last decade or so, perhaps most famously at Manchester City, which is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and part of the Dubai royal family.
Interestingly, betting on football and any other sports betting is frowned upon in the UAE, although wagering does remain a popular pastime for many.
Compiling their list of the best online betting sites in UAE, the experts at Arabianbetting have researched all the leading bookmakers who accept Emirati custom, along with providing them with information about how to bet online safely and securely. This includes tips on how to use VPN software, aimed at helping punters in the UAE to wager discreetly and anonymously, whilst making the most of great value odds and the latest promotions.
As the future of Newcastle United looks promising, following almost two decades of stability and phenomenal success, Chelsea fans are now facing the post-Abramovic era with some considerable trepidation. Fortunately, it appears there is a willingness to reduce some of the restrictions that have been directly imposed on the football club.
Indeed, potential Chelsea buyers have reportedly been told they can approach the UK Government for approval. Such a transaction could even take place within the next several weeks, as the interested parties weigh up their purchase options, inevitably maintaining a watchful eye on the developing situation. Some estimates value the club as worth more than £3 billion, although that hasn’t dissuaded an encouraging interest.
The whole situation will be fraught with complexities and nothing will be straightforward, given that Abramovic will not receive a single penny from the sale of Chelsea, while the new owners will also seek certain assurances regarding their investment. The most prominent interest appears to be coming from the United States, with several powerful financial institutions carefully monitoring the situation, apparently keen to provide backing.
For now, those of us who cheer for Chelsea will just have to remain patient. There will eventually be a resolution to the current situation, and that means the club could have new owners before the start of next season.
They will undoubtedly have their own approach to running things, which may also mean significant sporting changes at the club, although in an of itself, the club should continue to be a potent force in English and European football.