The UK government has warned Roman Abramovich it may take him to court if the proceeds from the £2.5 billion sale of Chelsea Football Club are not directed toward humanitarian
aid in Ukraine.
The funds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the club was sold, following sanctions imposed on Abramovich after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While the government insists the money should support humanitarian efforts within Ukraine, Abramovich has said he wants the funds to help “all victims of the war,” which could include people in Russia.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy issued a joint statement stressing that legal action remains on the table: “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.” They added that the government is “determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine” and expressed frustration over the ongoing deadlock with Abramovich’s legal team.
The dispute centers on how and where the money will be used. Although Abramovich was granted a special license to sell Chelsea on the condition he wouldn’t benefit from the sale, he remains the legal owner of the funds, despite being unable to access them under UK sanctions.
Abramovich, who made his fortune in oil and gas and has been linked—though he denies it—to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated at the time of the sale that the proceeds would go to a charitable foundation benefiting “all victims of the war in Ukraine.”
However, the UK government maintains the money must be used specifically for humanitarian aid within Ukraine. A House of Lords committee criticized the ongoing stalemate last year, calling it “incomprehensible” that Abramovich’s pledge remains unfulfilled and the funds frozen.
“This impasse reflects badly on both Mr Abramovich and the government, which ought to have pushed for a more binding commitment,” the committee said. Photo by inkiboo, Wikimedia commons.
