Sport

Roman Abramovich sanctions: Chelsea can't be 'business as usual' - Nigel Huddleston

The UK government placed a freeze on Abramovich's assets in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The club is allowed to continue operating despite the suspension of home ticket and product sales.

"We have to make sure there isn't any incremental new revenue generating," Huddleston explained.

The Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) warned on Tuesday that more revisions to the fines were needed "to avoid punishing supporters."

The government intervened to keep Russian businessman Roman Abramovich from profiting from Chelsea, and his bid to sell the Premier League team was put on hold.

Proceeds from ticket sales will now go straight to the Premier League, who will subsequently distribute them to the appropriate parties.

"The whole goal throughout has been to be very, very clear that Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned and that has definitely had ramifications," Huddleston said on Wednesday.

"I was extremely honest and open with Chelsea fans, telling them that 'this will have an impact because he has been sanctioned and he is the club's owner.'

"We've tried to make appropriate changes to the license so that fans can continue to participate with the club as much as possible."

"I'm still working with the fans, but I was quite clear from the start."

Because the club's owner has been sanctioned, this is a new world."

The Chelsea Supporters' Trust has requested that fans be permitted to purchase tickets for all of the team's games this season.

"The CST is highly unhappy that we have yet to get a response on crucial concerns - particularly clarity on ticketing - from Nigel Huddleston, Nadine Dorries [Culture Minister] or the Department of Culture, Media and Sport," the fans' organization said on Tuesday.

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