by William James
LONDON (Reuters) – Anyone interested in buying Chelsea football club can make a bid to the government, Britain said on Friday, following the British government’s ban on club owner Roman Abramovich and his planned sale of the Premier League team. after stopping.
Under pressure to increase sanctions against Russian oligarchs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last month, the British government on Thursday imposed a travel ban and confiscated Abramovich’s assets.
The announcement scuttled his recently announced plans to sell the London club, which he had hoped to raise more than £3bn ($3.9bn).
The club is now effectively controlled by the government and allowed to operate under strict conditions that prevent transfer deals and new ticket sales and even the closure of the club’s merchandise stores. force to.
“As the license terms are being drafted today, the sale will not be allowed,” UK Technology Minister Chris Philippe told Sky News.
“However, if a buyer comes in, it would be open for that buyer or that football club to approach the government and ask that the conditions be varied to allow this sale to take place.”
British property developer Nick Candy is interested in making an offer, a spokesman said in a statement, and is reviewing the details of Thursday’s sanctions announcement.
Chelsea said on Thursday it would seek changes to the license it now has to allow the club to continue as normally as possible. Sarkar said that while Abramovich may not benefit financially from the club, some changes are possible.
