The British government imposed sanctions on Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich on Thursday, freezing his efforts to sell his Chelsea club.
Abramovich, 55, put the "Blues" up for sale on the second of this month, in the wake of the Russian war on Ukraine.
Abramovich acquired Chelsea in 2003, and he has always denied any political connection to Russia's ruling class, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government said Thursday that it had frozen all of the billionaire's assets in Britain.
Chelsea will receive a special license to continue their business, but with the sale of the club suspended.
Metal magnate Abramovich bought the London club in 2013 for about $186 million, and press reports expected that the sale - if it took place - would amount to about $4 billion.
And widespread doubts were raised about the long-term future of the London team, but British government ministers stressed that any damage would be limited.
"Our priority is to hold those who enabled the Putin regime to account," British Culture Secretary Nadine Doris tweeted on Thursday.
She added, "The sanctions issued today certainly have a direct impact on Chelsea and its fans. We have worked hard to ensure that the club and football at a national level are not harmed by these important sanctions."
"To ensure the club's continued ability to compete and operate, we have issued a special license that allows the team to continue its competitions, pay staff salaries and attend season ticket holders for matches, while decisively depriving Abramovich of the use of his ownership of the club."
"I understand that these sanctions bring some uncertainty, but the government will work with the League and Clubs to keep football in line with the application of sanctions. Football clubs are cultural assets and a cornerstone of our societies, and we are committed to protecting them."