Anyone interested in buying Chelsea Football Club can contact the British government with a proposal, the government announced on Friday, after current owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned and his planned sale of the club was halted.
“As the license conditions are written today, the sale would not be allowed,” Britain’s technology minister Chris Philp told Sky News.
“However, if a buyer emerged it would be open to that buyer or to that football club to approach the government and ask for the conditions to be varied in a way that allows that sale to take place.”
On Thursday, the government, under pressure to tighten sanctions on Russian oligarchs following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine late last month, slapped a travel ban and froze Abramovich’s assets.
His previously disclosed plans to sell the West London football club, which he had expected to garner more than three billion pounds ($3.93 billion), were effectively put on hold as a result of the disclosure.
Separately, Evraz, a London-listed Russian steelmaker in which Abramovich owns a 28.6 percent stake according to Refinitiv Eikon, said on Friday that its entire board had resigned.
A condition for that to happen would be that Abramovich – one of Russia’s richest people who is believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin – receives no funds.
He has previously said that proceeds of any sale would be donated to victims of war.
On Wednesday, there were 20 credible parties looking at a potential Chelsea takeover and interest in buying the club has not been dented, despite Abramovich being sanctioned.
However, the American investment firm – Raine Group – handling the sale has temporarily halted their efforts after the shock of the news and the confusion caused by what happens next.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has said the government is “committed to protecting” the club.
“Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities,” she tweeted.
“I know this brings some uncertainty, but the government will work with the league and clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended.”
Dorries later told BBC Sport: “Abramovich has links to Putin, who is mounting a barbaric and evil attack against the people of Ukraine.
“We in this department stand with the people of Ukraine and I’m afraid sanctions have consequences. Abramovich’s actions have consequences too.”
