Two days after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Roman Abramovich has decided to delegate the management of the day-to-day business of Chelsea to the trustees of his charitable foundation. The Russian owner of the English club will take a step back.
The decision was made after a member of the British Parliament asked the Russian billionaire to hand over the club following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich, who has owned Chelsea since 2003, made no mention of the war in Ukraine in his statement and, significantly, is not relinquishing ownership of the club and can still provide funds, assuming he is not sanctioned by the British government. Sources told ESPN that Abramovich has no intention of ending his loans to the club.
According to a statement released Saturday, he said, “I have always made decisions with the best interests of the club at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am now handing over the management of Chelsea FC to the trustees of the Chelsea Charitable Foundation. I believe that they are currently the best placed to look after the interests of the club, the players, the staff and the fans,” said Roman Abramovich.
“Nobody expected this. It is very unreal, as I said, it disturbs our minds, it clouds our excitement ahead of the final” of the League Cup, which will oppose his club to Liverpool on Sunday, he had added.
