Chelsea news LIVE: Club withdraw Middlesbrough request after backlash and Roman Abramovich sanctioned by EU

Chelsea in back and forth over FA Cup game against Boro, owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned further by EU and prospective buyers circle ahead of deadline

Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned by UK government amid Russian oligarch crackdown

Chelsea continue to deal with the fallout of owner Roman Abramovich being disqualified as a director of the club and sanctioned by the UK government for his links to Vladimir Putin after the Russian invasion of Ukraine as prospective buyers circle ahead of Friday’s deadline for a sale.

The London billionaire, and Blues fan, Nick Candy has emerged as one of the frontrunners to buy Chelsea and several rival suitors have approached the British property tycoon on joining the bid for the Stamford Bridge club.

The UK government initially brought sanctions against Abramovich last Thursday but despite the Russian’s assets being frozen, Chelsea were handed a new licence to continue “football-related activities” and are in negotiations with the government to amend some aspects of it.

The license does not allow Chelsea to sell tickets, however, and the the club released a statement on Tuesday requesting for their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough to be played behind closed doors after they were unable to sell any more tickets for the match. Middlesbrough responded with a furious statement while the club’s chairman, Steve Gibson, called Chelsea “pathetic” over the proposals.

However, in a dramatic U-Turn, the FA then confirmed that Chelsea had removed their request to play the match in an empty stadium. It comes as Chelsea prepare to face Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday, with manager Thomas Tuchel criticising Boris Johnson’s “priorities” after the Prime Ministers called on Blues supporters to stop chanting Abramovich’s name at matches.

Chelsea FC latest - Roman Abramovich

• Chelsea remove request for FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough to be played behind closed doors after backlash
• Middlesbrough had labelled Chelsea’s request ‘pathetic’ and ‘bizarre and without merit’
• EU confirm sanctions against Abramovich to add to existing UK sanctions
• Nick Candy bid for Chelsea attracting support from rival suitors for the club
• Tuchel calls out PM Johnson over criticism of Abramovich chants
• Sports Minister wants ‘more robust’ Premier League owners’ test
• Abramovich disqualified as director of the club
• Saudi Media Group make £2.7bn bid to buy the club
• Government ‘open’ to sale if Abramovich doesn’t benefit from proceeds

[15 March 2022 09:45 · Jamie Braidwood]

Thomas Tuchel will ‘absolutely’ stay with Chelsea until at least end of season

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he will stay at Chelsea until at least the end of the season. The Blues boss, speaking after Sunday’s victory over Newcastle thanks to Kai Havertz’s last-gasp winner, revealed little has changed for the club’s first-team set-up so far in the wake of owner Roman Abramovich’s UK Government sanctions.

Tuchel reaffirmed his immediate commitment and expects a sale to be carried out in standard timescale. “There’s no doubt I’ll stay until the end of the season, absolutely,” said Tuchel, who faces another press conference this morning ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Lille.

“We just have to wait and we still have to go day by day because everything can change. But as you know, the situation is clear – the club’s for sale, and hopefully it will go through to sort things out and give us a perspective.

“But it’s pure speculation and I have no further information than you already have.”

[15 March 2022 09:30 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea ‘pressing the government’ to allow fans to buy tickets

Chelsea insist they are “pressing the government” to allow fans to buy tickets to matches.

Sanctions to Roman Abramovich from the UK government over his links to Vladimir Putin have led to the London club operating under strict conditions on a "Russia Regulations" license.

As well as an inability to sell tickets to fans, there can be no transfers or new contracts. And Chelsea have now urged the government to ease restrictions and permit supporters to purchase tickets for this weekend’s FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough.

A statement from the club read: “We are pressing the Government to allow our supporters to have access to tickets. Meetings are taking place daily in search of a resolution.

“In addition, the Premier League and FA are also discussing with the Government the sporting integrity issues raised if they do not permit fans to attend.

“We are aware of the high level of frustration our supporters are facing over this issue, and we are doing everything we can to resolve it as soon as possible.”

[15 March 2022 09:15 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tuchel vows to meet ‘responsibility’ to Chelsea’s behind-scenes employees

Thomas Tuchel has vowed to meet his “responsibility” to Chelsea’s behind-the-scenes employees who continue to fret for their futures.

Chelsea’s sale can continue under Government supervision, but Roman Abramovich cannot profit after Downing Street claimed to have proven the 55-year-old’s direct links to Vladimir Putin amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.

Tuchel has steadied the Stamford Bridge ship through the choppiest of waters and revealed his determination to provide a positive distraction for the club’s 1,000-plus employees and fans alike.

“I have the feeling that it is our responsibility to focus on what we do well and that is football and doing everything to win matches,” said Tuchel. “We can’t influence the situation, we are not responsible for the situation.

“But we have our responsibility, because we are in the spotlight and we have these games. It’s a responsibility to our talent but also to every employee of Chelsea. There are a lot of people that I see on a daily basis who are worried and who have worked here for decades.

“They are not so famous but they are worried for a pretty close future, they wonder if things will be alright. So for all of them, it’s important to have the attitude right and also to focus on that and see the responsibility and what this means to these people. Even if it’s just for 90 minutes.”

[15 March 2022 09:02 · Jamie Braidwood]

Neville: Chelsea situation a ‘wake-up call’ for the Premier League

Gary Neville has said the sanctioning of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is a wake-up call for football and its relationship with money.

The former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit said he hopes the UK Government will allow the sale of Chelsea to go ahead but urged for an independent regulator to be installed in order to properly scrutinise prospective owners.

“I think the government know that Chelsea Football Club, with hundreds of years of history, a fanbase behind them, an important part of the local community, cannot go bust,” Neville said on Monday Night Football.

“They’re going to have to make sure that a sale goes through and that a new owner is found and obviously whatever happens with the proceeds is up to the government.

“But it’s a massive wake-up call, these last few weeks, for football, and a massive wake-up call for me and my historical position on new money coming into English football.”

[15 March 2022 08:52 · Jamie Braidwood]

Carragher hits back at ‘hypocritical’ Chelsea fans

Jamie Carragher has responded to criticism from Chelsea fans by doubling down on his suggestion that Manchester United should try and poach Thomas Tuchel amid the uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.

“The Chelsea fans are very passionate about their club and at this moment feel like the world is attacking them, and they are defending their club. I totally get that. But l wouldn’t change my opinion on it,” the former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports.

“And the reason l think it’s a little bit hypocritical of Chelsea supporters is because if teams - such as Manchester United with the manager, or other clubs with the players - are going to take advantage of the situation that Chelsea are in right now, Chelsea have been doing that for 20 years.”

Carragher added: “Chelsea have taken advantage of every other club in the last 20 years because of Roman Abramovich. So if l give an opinion on someone taking advantage of them, that is just a way of life. That’s the way it may be for Chelsea and you have to accept that.

“Some of the things we’ve seen at Chelsea, such as closing the club shop and stopping kids from getting Mason Mount on the back of their shirts, I don’t agree with that and I certainly don’t want Chelsea to go to the wall.

“But, if that’s my opinion of it, I certainly don’t want Chelsea fans questioning that opinion next time I go there because it’s exactly what they have done for the last 20 years.”

(PA Wire)

[15 March 2022 08:42 · Jamie Braidwood]

Nick Candy wants Chelsea in ‘safe hands’, open to fan representative

Nick Candy, the London property tycoon, says that he only wants Chelsea to be in “safe hands” ahead of Friday’s deadline as the club moves away from the ownership of Roman Abramovich.

It has been reported that Candy has put together a consortium and has the funds to table an offer for the club he has supported since he was four years old.

Candy, who has said he wants to have a fan representative placed on the club’s board if his bid is successful, told Sky Sports News on Sunday: “I love Chelsea. I don’t mind where it ends up, even if it’s not with me, as long as it’s in safe hands.”

A spokesperson for Candy said: “Should his bid be successful, Mr Candy would advocate for a fan representative to join the board so supporters become part of the decision-making process.”

[15 March 2022 08:32 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea FC hotel an option to house refugees

The Government is exploring whether Ukrainian refugees could be housed in the mansions of sanctioned Russian oligarchs, Downing Street has said.

Ministers have faced calls for the vast houses of those impacted by measures imposed by the UK Government to be turned into homes for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

On Monday, Downing Street confirmed it was examining whether the properties could be used, although it is thought new legislation would be required.

It was also suggested Chelsea Football Club’s hotel could be used after owner Roman Abramovich was added to the Government’s hit list.

[15 March 2022 08:26 · Jamie Braidwood]

Prospective Chelsea owner Nick Candy vows to include fans in decision-making

Prospective Chelsea owner Nick Candy has vowed to include Blues fans in Stamford Bridge decision-making should he take over the Champions League holders.

British property tycoon Candy is among the leading candidates to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, with the UK Government overseeing the sale.

And the 49-year-old has now pledged to hand supporters a central role in Chelsea’s future should he win the rapidly-intensifying race to buy the west London outfit.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich was sanctioned by the Government on Thursday, with all his UK assets frozen bar Chelsea – with the Blues operating under special licence.

The Government will now oversee the Raine Group’s handling of the sale, with Abramovich blocked from profiting under terms of the sanctions.

[15 March 2022 04:45 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Chelsea news

Chelsea’s sale is expected to progress with government oversight as bidders have been told to press on with submissions.

Owner Roman Abramovich’s government sanctions had stalled proceedings, with the Russian-Israeli billionaire’s UK assets frozen.

Chelsea have been handed a new licence to continue operations however, and the Blues are still locked in negotiations with the government to ease restrictions.

But New York merchant the Raine Group has assessed the terms of the licence and agreed a route forward for the sale with the government.

Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale on 2 March, pledging to write off the Blues’ £1.5billion debt and to divert all proceeds to a new foundation to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine.

[15 March 2022 02:55 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Holocaust memorial suspends ties with Abramovich

Israel’s official Holocaust memorial and museum, Yad Vashem, has suspended ties with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich just weeks after he made an eight-figure donation in a “long-term strategic partnership”

Just a few weeks ago, after the donation from Abramovich, the memorial had claimed that “a new long-term strategic partnership” had been struck with the Russian billionaire after he became their second largest donor.

Earlier this month, Yad Vashem was embroiled in controversy after a report in the Washington Post claimed that it had attempted to assert pressure on the US not to sanction the Blues owner.

Abramovich has had his assets frozen in the UK in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, although he continues to deny any links to president Vladimir Putin .

The West have targeted several Russian oligarchs and billionaires with sanctions and asset freezes in the hopes of exertgin pressure on Putin to stop the war and Israel are debating whether to follow their lead.