Chelsea sanctions prompt soul-searching over football finance
Chelsea following sanctions imposed on Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has sparked fresh debate over the sources of money that fuel Europe's richest league. The Premier League club had their assets frozen after Abramovich was targeted by the British government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leaving them to cope with a ban on ticket sales and merchandise. An expedited sale of the European champions will soon bring the curtain down on 19 years of nearly unbroken success under their 55-year-old owner, who has overseen five Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs. Chelsea's first home game since the sanctions were imposed was against Newcastle, whose own ownership model is also in the spotlight after a controversial takeover in October by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. Rights group Amnesty raised concerns over the purchase, saying it was an attempt to "sportswash" the Gulf kingdom's human rights record.
