Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned by UK government: Live news and latest updates

The Athletic’s Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey looks at what comes next.

Brentford have confirmed they are “seeking clarification from the Premier League” about tickets for their match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday April 2.

Planned release of tickets this afternoon will no longer take place as the situation develops.

Brentford have been allocated 3,000 tickets for the match and “will do everything in our power to ensure our full allocation is distributed to Bees fans.”

Some tickets have already been sold and club will provide supporters with updates in due course.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Bernardo Silva will never win the Ballon d’Or because “you have to be on social media” to win the award.

Last year’s title was won by Lionel Messi, despite Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski being the bookmakers’ favourite to win the award.

Silva is on both Instagram and Twitter, with a combined 3.4 million followers. He has made 37 appearances for City this season, scoring 10 goals and managing four assists.

Full story here.

(Photo: Lynne Cameron/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

The Chelsea coach urged his out-of-contract defender not to depart on a free transfer yesterday.

He added: “For Andreas we have unbelievably much to offer. It is the club where he came through the academy and I think he has a lot, also, to appreciate where he is right now. He profited a lot from the support, the structure. Now is the crucial moment to step up and be a huge player with this history.”

Tuchel was then asked whether clubs like Bayern Munich or Barcelona offer more enticing prospects than Chelsea. He replied: “There cannot be a big improvement in any other club in terms of organisation, the supporting level for the players, the mentality, the competition in which you play: I don’t see an upgrade in any other club.

“Of course if you want to have the challenge of a new league and maybe also in money there are some possibilities always available if you’re a top, top player. But you can fulfill any dream here: I think we should not hide from that and we should not be too humble in that.”

Today’s news obviously changes things.

(Photo: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Three, Chelsea’s principal shirt sponsor and key partner, told The Athletic: “We are reviewing the situation and are in discussions with Chelsea FC.”

(Photo: Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Abramovich, who has owned the club since 2003, will not be able to make any money or benefit financially in any way from Chelsea.

That means the club will be prohibited from selling any more tickets to matches that haven’t already been sold — but season ticket holders will be permitted to continue attending matches.

Chelsea’s club shop will also be closed.

(Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

A Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Spokesperson said: “The CST notes with concern the government’s statement regarding the owner.

“Supporters must be involved in any conversation regarding ongoing impacts on the club and its global fan base.

“The CST implores the government to conduct a swift process to minimise the uncertainty over Chelsea’s future, for supporters and for supporters to be given a golden share as part of a sale of the club.”

The Athletic has contacted Chelsea’s sponsors for comment. A spokesperson for Three, Chelsea’s principal shirt sponsor and key partner, said: “We are reviewing the situation and are in discussions with Chelsea FC.”

An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen — or any business in the UK ​​— from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the sanctioned person and which are held in the UK.

An asset freeze also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for that person.

Abramovich has also been hit by a travel ban and travel sanctions — meaning he will be refused leave to enter or to remain in the UK.

News story here.

Full thread from the UK government’s culture secretary below.

A government document published on Thursday claimed Abramovich has had a “close relationship for decades” with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

“This association has included obtaining a financial benefit or other material benefit from Putin and the Government of Russia,” it said.

Abramovich has always vehemently denied being close to the Kremlin or having done anything which could merit him being punished.

The government has said that the license it has granted Chelsea means the club can fulfil its fixtures. Staff and players will continue to be paid.

But Abramovich, who has owned the club since 2003, will not be able to make any money or benefit financially in any way from the club.

That means the club will be prohibited from selling any more tickets to matches that haven’t already been sold — but season ticket holders will be permitted to continue attending matches.

Chelsea’s club shop will also be closed.

The club are permitted to spend “reasonable costs of travel to and from fixtures”. But the cost of such trips cannot exceed “20,000 per game per team”.

Full story here.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government over Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Described by the UK government as a “pro-Kremlin oligarch”, Abramovich has been hit with an asset freeze and a travel ban.

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has said that Chelsea will be issued with a “special license”, however, that will allow the Premier League club to complete its upcoming fixtures and for “staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches”.

Abramovich confirmed last week that he has put Chelsea up for sale and has written off the £1.5 billion of loans he has made to the club.

He has owned the reigning European champions since 2003.

More to follow.

(Photo: Artyom Geodakyan\TASS via Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting director Leonardo has said that the club “shouldn’t throw everything in the bin,” after being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

He also reaffirmed that manager Mauricio Pochettino was “part of the project” for the rest of the season, despite the damaging defeat.

Pochettino’s side led 1-0 after the first leg in Paris, and Kylian Mbappe netted his second goal of the tie in the first-half, seemingly setting PSG on course for the quarter-finals.

However, Madrid roared back as PSG imploded, with Karim Benzema scoring a hat-trick in the final 30 minutes to seal a 3-2 comeback win on aggregate.

Full story here.

(Photo: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

And welcome to The Athletic’s coverage of today’s football news.

Judging by PSG’s implosion last night, it’s not going to be a quiet day…

Europa League, Europa Conference League, and Premier League to come.

In a game that no-one will ever speak of again, Manchester City confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw at home to Sporting Lisbon.

Oh, and Scott Carson came on as a substitute…

Yes, they are through, and yes, Klopp can joke about ‘needing to lose the right games’ but the bottom line is that Liverpool weren’t good enough against Inter last night.

James Pearce has more.

Wow.

A second-half Karim Benzema hat-trick completely turned this tie on its head.

Real Madrid are through to the quarter-finals after a total PSG capitulation.

(Photo: Getty Images)

The former Wolves man comes from New York Red Bulls and replaces Marcel Brands, who departed last year.

Thelwell certainly has a few things to straighten out on Merseyside…