Abramovich Speaks Out on Chelsea Sale, Peace Efforts

Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea FC, has spoken publicly for the first time since his 2022 forced sale of the club due to UK sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich expressed a desire to return to Stamford Bridge for a proper farewell but reiterated he has no intention to own or manage another football club, though he remains interested in youth and charitable work. He stated that the £2.5 billion from the Chelsea sale, currently frozen in a UK account, should support all victims of the war, while the UK government remains committed to directing the funds specifically to Ukrainian humanitarian causes and is threatening legal action to enforce this. Abramovich also claimed to have helped facilitate peace talks in the early stages of the conflict, despite persistent allegations of his ties to Vladimir Putin, which he denies. In the aftermath of his departure, Chelsea has achieved post-Abramovich success by winning the Europa Conference League. Details of Abramovich's reflections and future plans are included in Nick Purewal's book 'Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC.'