Russia's Abramovich announces his departure from Chelsea Football Club
The Russian Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea, announced yesterday that he has handed over the "management and care" of the club to the club's trustees' charitable foundation, according to a statement published by the European Champions.
In a statement on the club's official website, San Abramovich said: "During nearly 20 years of ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always looked to my role as a goalkeeper for the club, whose mission is to ensure our success as we are today, as well as build for the future and play a positive role in our communities." .
"I have always made decisions with the interest of the club above all else. I remain committed to these values. That is why today I give to the trustees of the Chelsea Foundation the management and care of Chelsea Football Club."
"I think they are currently in the best position to take care of the interests of the club, the players, the staff and the fans."
The move comes in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its repercussions on the world of sports.
It is expected that the billionaire who took over the ownership of Chelsea in 2003, made this decision in order to protect Chelsea in light of the possible sanctions on Russian influencers with the escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Last Wednesday, he was described by Liberal Democratic Party MP Leyla Moran as one of the 35 most important "supporting figures" of Russian President Vladimir Putin who should be punished.
The Russian billionaire has a fortune of approximately $14 billion according to Forbes magazine, and he was ranked 142nd in the magazine's 2021 list of the world's richest men.
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