The Premier League is confident Chelsea will be able to continue playing regardless of what happens to owner Roman Abramovich.
The club’s future was thrown into turmoil after the oligarch faced repeated calls in Parliament for him to be sanctioned over Russia’s invasion of Ukarine.
If Abramovich was sanctioned his assets could be frozen, including Chelsea. It forced Abramovich to reluctantly put the club up for sale this week.
A sale is expected to take at the very least several weeks but i has learned that even if Abramovich was sanctioned before selling, the Government would allow Chelsea to continue operating as a football club and it would not have to cease business, as would be the case with most businesses frozen as assets.
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Premier League considers terminating broadcast deals with Russian TV channels03 March, 2022Abramovich’s announcement that the club is for sale has sparked intense interest from prospective buyers. American Todd Boehly is forming a consortium with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, who first revealed that Abramovich was offering Chelsea to prospective buyers.
i revealed on Monday that US investors were interested in buying the club.
The Premier League, meanwhile, is reviewing its broadcast deals with Russian TV partners and is considering suspending or terminating them.
English football’s top flight is broadcast by Okko Sport in Russia, but that deal is likely to be cancelled following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Games are still expected to be broadcast in the country this weekend, when Premier League clubs will display an unprecedented show of solidarity for the people of Ukraine.
Global sports are turning on Russia as Vladimir Putin continues his assault on Ukraine. Fifa has banned Russian national teams and clubs from competing in international tournaments while Uefa stripped the Champions League final from St Petersburg.
Uefa has ended its lucrative sponsorship deal with Gazprom, the Russia state owned energy company, while Manchester United terminated a contrary with Aeroflot, the Russian airline.
The Premier League is now taking action and is looking to restrict access to live games in Russia.
“Clearly broadcast contracts in Russia are under review,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told the Financial Times Business of Football Summit. “We’re looking at suspension or termination.”
He added: “It’s happening now. We’re looking at a fast-moving situation.”
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