Abramovich permanently distanced himself from football: The era of club ownership is over

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has announced that he has severed all ties with professional football.

According to Lent.az, citing foreign media, the British government is increasing pressure to transfer the 2.5 billion pounds sterling from the sale of Chelsea to Ukraine.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has announced that he is leaving all roles related to professional football and will never take a role in the club again.

Abramovich's statements appear in a chapter of his book, "Sanctions: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea Football Club."

Abramovich told the book's author, Nick Purewal: "I have closed this chapter in my life, whether it is club ownership or any professional role."

Abramovich said he still wants to go to a Chelsea game in the future and say a "proper goodbye."

In 2022, after the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the British government imposed sanctions against Abramovich due to his close ties to the Kremlin.

During this process, the sale of Chelsea Football Club was approved, and the club was sold to an American consortium for 2.5 billion pounds sterling.

However, the funds from the sale cannot be used without Abramovich's consent. The money is still frozen in an account in England.

British Finance Minister Rachel Riva and Foreign Minister David Lammy issued a joint statement last week calling on Abramovich.

The statement said that the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea should be used for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The government has stated that if Abramovich does not give his consent, they will resort to legal action.

Abramovich claims that the funds from the sale should be used to help not only Ukraine, but all victims of the war (both civilians on the Ukrainian and Russian sides).