Former England Star ‘Attacks’ Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich Over Stewardship of Chelsea Football Club

Former England Star ‘Attacks’ Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich Over Stewardship of Chelsea Football Club

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM
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  • Roman Abramovich, who owns English Premier League club Chelsea have been barred from staying permanently in Britain
  • The Russian billionaire has been named as one of the key enablers of the Vladimir Putin administration following attacks on Ukraine
  • Abramovich, in a statement, handed the club’s stewardship to Chelsea foundation, an idea which has upset Gary Neville

Former England international and pundit with Sky Sports, Gary Neville, has ripped apart Roman Abramovich for claiming he had handed stewardship of Chelsea to the club’s foundation, Mirror reports.

Following the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich said in a statement that he has handed the stewardship of Premier League side, Chelsea, to the club’s charitable foundation.

This comes after the British government was advised to seize all assets belonging to the entrepreneur, including Chelsea Football Club.

Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich under fire for handing over stewardship of Chelsea Football Club. Photo: Paul Gilham
Source: Getty Images

Labour MP Chris Bryant, in a statement during a House of Commons session, disclosed that he found a leaked document that says the entrepreneur should not be allowed to stay permanently in the UK.

The situation forced Abramovich to announce that he is no longer in control of the club as he hands stewardship to Chelsea foundation.

And in his reaction, Neville believes the Chelsea owner only brought up the idea just to “con” Chelsea fans in an attempt to remove himself from the spotlight.

The former England defender declared on Sky Sports "it's quite clear" the six trustees are "not going to be running Chelsea Football Club" while covering the Blues' Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Neville added via GOAL:

"I thought it was to be fair a cowardly approach to sort of throw a hospital pass to good people on the charitable and foundation board when it's quite clear he runs the club with Marina [Granovskaia, Chelsea director] and [technical and performance adviser] Petr Cech on the football side."

Investors preparing bids to buy Chelsea

Meanwhile, a number of investors around the world are said to be preparing takeover bids for English Premier League outfit Chelsea as Roman Abramovich’s future at the club remains questioned.

British Labour MP Chris Bryant had told the House of Commons that the Russian entrepreneur should be barred from living in the UK permanently.

The Chelsea owner Abramovich was named among the key enablers of Vladimir Putin’s administration as Russia invades Ukraine.

Liverpool crown Carabao Cup Champions at Chelsea’s expense

Sports Brief earlier reported that Liverpool are the 2021/22 Carabao Cup champions following their epic win over rivals, Chelsea, in a thrilling final staged at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The Reds won the title after they stunned the Blues 10-11 in post-match penalties, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who came on for the shootout missing the decisive spot-kick.

The match had to be decided via the shootouts after both teams ended in a goalless draw after regulations time.

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Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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