During the war, football continues. For the Carabao Cup final in London on Sunday February 27, Chelsea players applauded the host’s call before the start of the match: “Thank you for showing your solidarity with the people of Ukraine. » Ukrainian flags, bearing the Chelsea logo, had been distributed in Wembley Stadium. “Football stands together” (“Football is united”), announced the giant screen.
The irony has not escaped anyone. The London club – which lost the final on penalties to Liverpool – has been owned by Roman Abramovich since 2003. The Russian oligarch, who made his fortune in oil and aluminum during the 1990s, was close to Vladimir Putin.
Both omnipresent – he came regularly to the Stamford Bridge stadium, until 2018 – and mute, almost never giving an interview, Mr. Abramovich tried, on Saturday, a strange maneuver to distance himself from the invasion Russian from Ukraine. In a brief press release, he announced that he was giving “stewardship and care” from the club to the trustees of the Chelsea Foundation, the charity attached to it. A quick read made it look like he was leaving the club, or even selling it. It is not so.
Mr. Abramovich chose his words with precision, which legally mean nothing. This is neither a sale nor a transfer of ownership to the foundation. In his press release, Mr Abramovitch specifies that he has “always considered [son] role as that of custodian of the club” and that he has “always taken [ses] decisions with the interests of the club at heart.. It does not mention the war in Ukraine and does not condemn Mr. Putin’s action.
Directors’ concerns
The club itself contented itself with a two-line press release: “The situation in Ukraine is horrific and heartbreaking. Chelsea Football Club’s thoughts are with the people of Ukraine. Everyone at the club prays for peace. »
Embarrassed Chelsea Foundation trustees met on Sunday and did not agree to the transfer of ” Stewardship “ of the club – without openly refusing it. Officially, the legal situation worries them: does a charity have the right to run a Premier League club? Would the administrators become legally liable if they agreed?
One of the outstanding questions is whether Mr. Abramovich will be subject to British government sanctions. On Friday, an initial list of around 100 Russian oligarchs and businesses did not include him. But other names should be added in the coming days.
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