London (AP) – Under the pressure of possible sanctions, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has announced the sale of Champions League winners Chelsea. The 55-year-old oligarch announced that the proceeds should benefit the victims of the Ukraine war via a foundation.
This marks the end of an almost 20-year ownership era for the Londoners: With Abramowitsch’s financial commitment, Chelsea had risen to become one of the most successful clubs in the world and most recently won the premier class and the Club World Cup for the second time under coach Thomas Tuchel .
In the best interests of the club
“Hopefully” not much will change for the team in the short term, the German football world coach told the BBC after his club reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. “Maybe it won’t change anything. We’ll do what we can to block out the noise and stay focused, which isn’t always easy.”
Abramovich has been the focus of attention in Britain for weeks because of his alleged closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin. MPs in the House of Commons repeatedly called for him to be put on the sanctions list.
The well-being of the club was always the focus of his decisions, Abramovich said, according to the announcement. In the current situation, selling is “both in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees and the sponsors and partners”. Abramovich said he would not seek repayment of the £1.5 billion loan.
There had previously been rumors of a possible sale. Abramovich had already announced last week that he would hand over the management of the club to a charitable foundation. He now hopes to visit Stamford Bridge one last time and say goodbye.
Wyss: “I can well imagine getting started”
Even before Abramovich’s final announcement of his withdrawal, a Swiss billionaire had expressed an interest in the association. “I received an offer with three other people on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich,” said Hansjörg Wyss of the Swiss newspaper “Blick”. The newspaper wrote on Wednesday that it is not yet certain whether he will buy it. “I now have to wait four to five days. Abramovich is currently asking far too much,” the Wyss newspaper quoted.
“I can well imagine joining Chelsea with partners,” Wyss continued. “I’m definitely not going to do something like that alone. If I buy Chelsea, it’ll be with a consortium of six to seven investors.”
Wyss (86) is one of the richest men in the world. The US magazine Forbes currently estimates his net worth at $5.1 billion. He has lived in the USA for decades. There he managed a company for medical technology, which he sold in 2012 to the US company Johnson & Johnson for a profit of billions. It promotes and finances numerous educational institutions and environmental protection projects.
Abramovich in the sights of the authorities
Since Abramovich took over 19 years ago, the former Chelsea lift club has won the English Championship and the FA Cup five times, the League Cup three times and the Champions League and Europa League twice each. Recently, the Blues triumphed for the first time at the Club World Cup.
Abramovich had also always been associated with the Kremlin. According to Labor Party leader Keir Starmer, a Home Office document shows the oligarch was targeted by authorities over his links to Putin and allegations of corruption.
A spokesman recently claimed that the 55-year-old wanted to act as a mediator in the conflict. Abramovich is trying to help – but with a view to what is at stake, no further details can be given, it said.