Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel condemns Roman Abramovich chant during tribute to Ukraine

By George Ramsay, CNN

Updated 1116 GMT (1916 HKT) March 6, 2022

Players, officials, and fans paid respects to Ukraine ahead of the Premier League match between Burnley and Chelsea.

(CNN)Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said it was «not the moment to give other messages» after fans chanted the name of the club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich during a tribute to Ukraine.

A minute of applause was held at Turf Moor ahead of Chelsea's Premier League game against Burnley Saturday, during which chants of Abramovich's name could be heard on a Sky Sports broadcast. The chants were soon drowned out by boos from the stands. «If we show solidarity, we show solidarity and we should do it together. We take the knee together, if an important person from other clubs or from our club unfortunately dies, we show a minute of respect,» Tuchel told reporters after the game, which Chelsea won 4-0. «It's not the moment to give other messages, it's a moment to show respect. We do this because this is what we are also as a club, we show respect as a club. We need our fans to commit to this minute of applause in the moment. Read More»We do it for Ukraine, there is no second opinion about the situation there. They have our thoughts and our support, and we should stand together as a club."Tuchel looks on during Chelsea's comfortable victory against Burnley.CNN has contacted Chelsea regarding the chants but did not immediately receive a response. Chelsea's billionaire owner Abramovich announced earlier this week that he planned to sell the club after nearly 20 years at the helm. In that time, Chelsea has won two Champions League and five Premier League titles. British Member of Parliament Chris Bryant previously called for Abramovich to lose ownership