Sports Minister Nadine Doris said yesterday, Wednesday, that the British government issued a license last night to sell the English Premier League club, Chelsea.
The current owner, Russian Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned by the British government, but the London club was up for sale in early March after Russia’s war on Ukraine, described by Moscow as a “special military operation.”
“We are confident that the proceeds of the sale will not benefit Roman Abramovich or others sanctioned,” Doris said on Twitter.
“Given the sanctions, we have imposed on those associated with Russian President (Vladimir) Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the long-term future of the club can only be secured with a new owner.”
The Premier League announced Tuesday that the Pole-Clerlake alliance led by businessman Todd Pole, which agreed to terms to buy Chelsea FC for 4.25 billion pounds ($5.33 billion) earlier this month, has passed the review of the league’s owners and directors. This paves the way for the acquisition deal to be finalized.
