Luton vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup result and final score as Lukaku and Werner seal comeback after Abramovich news
Follow all the reaction from the fifth round tie at Kenilworth Road after the Chelsea owner announced the club is up for sale
Follow all the reaction Chelsea came from behind to beat Luton and advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thanks to late goals from Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku. The Championship side threatened a shock after taking a 2-1 lead into half-time, but Chelsea turned it around in the second half to claim a victory on what had been a significant day in the club’s history.
It comes as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich announced his intention to sell the club, news that was released one hour before kick-off at Kenilworth Road. In a statement, Abramovich said: “I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea. As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners.”
In Abramovich’s statement, the Russian billionaire said he will not “be asking for any loans to be repaid”, adding the sale of the club will not be “fast-tracked”. He added: “I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss claimed he has been offered the chance to buy Chelsea while an American-based merchant bank has reportedly contacted potential buyers.
Follow live coverage of Luton vs Chelsea, plus reaction to tonight’s breaking news, below:
Luton vs Chelsea: Confirmed line-ups
Luton XI: Steer; Kioso, Burke, Lockyer, Potts, Bell; Berry, Osho; Mendes Gomes; Muskwe, Cornick
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Hudson-Odoi, Sarr, Rudiger, Kenedy; Saul, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Mount, Werner; Lukaku
Roman Abramovich: Chelsea owner confirms intention to sell club
More on tonight’s huge breaking story, as Roman Abramovich has confirmed his intention to sell Chelsea Football Club.
The news landed just one hour before kick-off at Kenilworth Road.
Roman Abramovich confirms intention to sell Chelsea
Roman Abramovich has confirmed his intention to sell Chelsea Football Club.
BREAKING: Roman Abramovich announces he will sell Chelsea
Statement from Roman Abramovich: “I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC. As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the Club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the Club, the fans, the employees, as well as the Club’s sponsors and partners.
“The sale of the Club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club. Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery. “Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the Club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the Club. “I hope that I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you in person. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements. Chelsea Football Club and its supporters will always be in my heart.”
More follows
Luton vs Chelsea team news and predicted line-ups
After 120 minutes, plus a penalty shootout, against Liverpool on Sunday, Thomas Tuchel will likely ring the changes in his Chelsea selection to give fresh legs a chance to shine.
Hakim Ziyech and Andreas Christensen both missed the final with injury issues, while Cesar Azpilicueta was substituted off after picking up a knock, so Tuchel may not risk any of the trio as they continue to fight on multiple fronts. Ben Chilwell continues to be a long-term absentee with his ACL injury.
Predicted line-ups
Luton XI: Steer; Burke, Lockyer, Naismith; Bree, Bell, Berry, Campbell, Clark; Cornick, Hylton
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Sarr, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi; Pulisic, Werner; Lukaku
How can I watch Luton vs Chelsea tonight?
The match will kick-off at 19:15 GMT on Wednesday, 2 March at Kenilworth Road, Luton.
How can I watch?
The match will be shown live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, with coverage starting at 19:00 GMT.
Premier League confirms show of support for Ukraine at weekend games
The Premier League has announced a show of support for the people of Ukraine at all matches this weekend.
Captains of all clubs will wear special armbands in Ukrainian colours with fans encouraged to join players, managers, match officials and club staff in a moment of reflection and solidarity before kick-off.
The large screens at grounds will display “Football Stands Together” against a blue and yellow backdrop, matching the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Chelsea’s players showed their support for Ukraine alongside Liverpool in Sunday’s League Cup final at Wembley, but it is unclear whether there is anything planned for tonight’s FA Cup match.
Premier League confirms show of support for Ukraine at weekend games
Captains of all clubs will wear special armbands in Ukrainian colours with fans encouraged to join players, managers, match officials and club staff in a moment of reflection
Conor McGregor tells Chelsea he’s interested in buying club
Conor McGregor has told Chelsea he wants to “explore” buying the club from Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich is considering his options as the threat of UK government sanctions looms. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has claimed he has been given the chance to buy Chelsea, and is preparing a consortium to submit an offer for the Stamford Bridge club.
UFC star McGregor has a net worth of more than £100m, according to Forbes, a vast fortune for a fighter but nowhere near enough money to buy Chelsea, although he could feasibly use his wealth and connections to help form a consortium.
The Irishman tweeted a screenshot from Whatsapp on Wednesday which appeared to show he had sent a message which read: “Chelsea for sale £3bn. Let’s buy it.”
Conor McGregor tells Chelsea he’s interested in buying club from Roman Abramovich
Abramovich’s future owning Chelsea is uncertain after nearly two decades with the club
Who is Hansjorg Wyss?
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has emerged as a contender to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich amid the conflict in Ukraine.
Wyss told Swiss newspaper Blick that Abramovich is trying to sell the club and revealed he is a part of a consortium of interested parties.
“I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich. I have to wait four to five days now,” he said.
“Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owe him £2 billion. But Chelsea has no money. As of today, we don’t know the exact selling price.”
But who is Wyss, how big is his fortune, and where did it come from? More here:
Who is Hansjorg Wyss? The Swiss billionaire offered chance to buy Chelsea
Who is Hansjorg Wyss and what is his net worth?
Roman Abramovich ready to sell Chelsea
Roman Abramovich is apparently hoping to create a bidding war for Chelsea, in a last attempt to maintain leverage, as he faces up to the sale of the club after almost 19 years.
A small pool of potential buyers have sensed a rare opportunity to buy such a blue-chip football club, with the 55-year-old billionaire now willing to sell. Abramovich faces both the threat of sanctions from the British state – with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer again asking the question in the House of Commons on Wednesday – but also huge effects on his personal fortune due to sanctions on the Russian state and how much business he still has in the country.
Sources say the feeling from potential bidders and outside observers is that Abramovich has bought himself time through both Saturday’s announcement that he is handing “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to the board trustees – some of whom had reservations about the plan – as well as the claim that he is “advocating” peace talks in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There is a belief they will have a preferred partner by this weekend. There is also a grace period, even if Abramovich is sanctioned.
Read the latest here from the The Independent’s Miguel Delaney:
Roman Abramovich ready to sell Chelsea and hoping to create £2bn bidding war
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss is one of a number of potential bidders with Abramovich moving towards a sale after 19 years at the helm of the London club
Good evening
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Luton vs Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round.
Chelsea come into the tie under a huge cloud of uncertainty, with widespread reports that owner Roman Abramovich is now seeking to sell the club. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss claimed he has been offered the chance to buy Chelsea while an American-based merchant bank has reportedly contacted potential buyers. Chelsea have not responded to the reports which followed Abramovich’s thus far unsuccessful attempt to hand the “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to the club’s charitable foundation trustees. Earlier on Wednesday, Boris Johnson declined to comment on whether sanctions would be imposed on Abramovich at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Thomas Tuchel urged reporters to stop asking him questions about the invasion of Ukraine and Abramovich’s plans at a press conference ahead of tonight’s tie. Chelsea lost on penalties against Liverpool in the final of the League Cup last Sunday in their previous match, but it would require a momentous performance from Luton, who currently sit inside the playoff places in the Championship, to spring an upset at Kenilworth Road
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