Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich gives over 'stewardship and care' of Premier League club to charity, after MP alleges ties to Russian state, corruption

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has given stewardship of his Premier League side Chelsea to the London football club's charitable foundation, in the wake of political pressure stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich, who bought the London club in 2003, said in a statement that the foundation was in the «best position to look after the interests» of the club.

«I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities,» he said.

«I have always taken decisions with the club's best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values.»

Abramovich remains the club owner and the statement did not reveal why he was giving the foundation stewardship, nor any detail on how the arrangement would work.

Several Russian individuals and entities have been put under sanctions by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after Moscow launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine this week.

Abramovich has not faced any sanctions but some British opposition parliamentarians said on Thursday that he should be included.

Labour MP Chris Bryant said the UK should seize his assets and bar him from owning the football club, saying he had seen a 2019 Home Office document that referred to Abramovich in relation to Tier 1 visas, which allow wealthy people to invest in the country.

"'As part of HMG's [Her Majesty's government] Russia strategy aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity," Mr Bryant quoted the document as saying.

«Abramovich remains of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices.»

Abramovich,