Chelsea shirt sponsors Three have announced they are parting ways with the English Premier League club
The announcement came in the wake of sanctions imposed on the club owner Roman Abramovich whose assets across the UK have been frozen
Three’s logo will be removed from Chelsea shirts and from their advertising boards in and around the Stamford Bridge

Telecommunications giants Three have said they will suspend their £40m-a-year shirt sponsorship deal with English Premier League outfit Chelsea, Mirror reports.

The decision is coming in the wake of sanctions imposed on the club owner Roman Abramovich whose assets across the UK have been frozen by the government.

Abramovich was named among the key enablers of Vladimir Putin who ordered a military invasion of Ukraine, but the Blues boss has continued to deny any links with the Russian president.

Consequently, Three’s logo will be removed from Chelsea shirts and from their advertising boards in and around Stamford Bridge until further notice.

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A spokesperson for Three has said via Fan Nation:

“In light of the government’s recently announced sanctions, we have requested Chelsea Football Club temporarily suspend our partnership of the club, including the removal of our brand from shirts and around the stadium until further notice.

“We recognise that this decision will impact the many Chelsea fans who follow their team passionately. However, we feel that given the circumstances, and the Government sanction that is in place, it is the right thing to do.

“As a mobile network, the best way we can support the people of Ukraine is to ensure refugees arriving in the UK from the conflict and customers currently in Ukraine can stay connected to the people who matter to them. Therefore, we are offering connectivity packages to all Ukrainians arriving in the UK, and those in Ukraine.

"Given the significant impact that today’s sanctions would have on Chelsea football club and the potential knock-on effects of this, the Government has this morning published a licence which authorises a number of football-related activities to continue at Chelsea."

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Thomas Tuchel speaks

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has broken his silence after club owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.

Abramovich has been looking to sell the west London club following the Ukraine-Russia crisis over fears he could be slapped with sanctions over his alleged ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, Tuchel has come out to offer Chelsea fans a glimmer of hope as he allayed fears he could depart the club.

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