LONDON: With the threat of financial sanctions looming, Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich confirmed Wednesday he is trying to sell the Premier League club he turned into an elite trophy-winning machine with his lavish investment.
The speed of Abramovich’s pending exit from Chelsea is striking as he was trying to instigate a plan this past weekend to relinquish some control in order to keep the club under his ownership.
But as Russia’s war on Ukraine entered a seventh day, pressure was growing on the British government to include him among the wealthy Russians to be targeted in sanctions.
“In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners,” Abramovich said in a statement.
Abramovich said he will not be asking to be repaid 1.5 billion pounds ($2 billion) in loans he has granted the club during 19 years of injecting cash to elevate the team into one of the most successful in Europe. The Blues won the Club World Cup for the first time last month — in front of Abramovich in Abu Dhabi — after securing a second Champions League title last year.
“I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated,” he said. “The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine.”
Roman Abramovich confirms he will sell Chelsea
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Roman Abramovich confirms he will sell Chelsea
- The speed of Abramovich’s pending exit from Chelsea is striking
- “I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees," Abramovich said in a statement
Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev march on in Dubai
- Auger-Aliassime overcame the big-serving Frenchman thanks to an impressive break-point conversion rate
- In a battle of former Grand Slam winners, Russia’s Medvedev beat Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3
DUBAI: Felix Auger-Aliassime stamped his ticket to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while Daniil Medvedev put an end to Stan Wawrinka’s tournament.
Canadian top seed Auger-Aliassime overcame the big-serving Frenchman thanks to an impressive break-point conversion rate as he managed to make the most of three of the five that he forced on Mpetshi Perricard’s serve.
Consecutive breaks in the seventh and ninth games of the opening set allowed the world number eight to seize the initiative.
Auger-Aliassime pounced again early in the second set to get his nose in front and then managed to serve out to book a meeting with Jiri Lehecka in the last eight.
The Czech eliminated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to progress through the round of 16.
In a battle of former Grand Slam winners, Russia’s Medvedev beat Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3.
The 40-year-old Swiss will retire at the end of the season and was honored on-court after his defeat.
“It’s my last time here, but I always had amazing support from you guys,” 2016 champion Wawrinka told the crowd.
“It’s always special. The reason why I kept playing for so long is because of those emotions that I receive on court, but I think at 40 it’s time to play for one last year. I’m enjoying it a lot.”
Third seed Medvedev will face Jenson Brooksby in the next round, after the American defeated seventh-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan was beaten by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as the second seed fell to just his fourth defeat of the season.
World number 25 Griekspoor will next face Jakub Mensik after the Czech sixth seed eased past Alexei Popyrin for the loss of just five games.
Doha semifinalist Andrey Rublev continued a fine Middle East swing by battling through 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 against France’s Ugo Humbert.
Later on Wednesday, the 18th-ranked Russian will discover his last-eight opponent when fourth seed Jack Draper meets Arthur Rinderknech.
