Chelsea players fearful for future after UK freezes Abramovich’s assets

Chelsea players are fearful about their futures after an extraordinary day on which Roman Abramovich was hit with government sanctions and the mobile phone company Three suspended its sponsorship of the club.

The government’s decision to freeze Abramovich’s assets – and bar him from selling the club for the time being – plunged Chelsea into a state of limbo, with one dressing-room source describing the atmosphere as “chaos” and some worried that the club could go into administration.

Related: Football ignored the truth about Roman Abramovich’s oligarch money for too long | David Conn

The Guardian also understands some of the players are concerned about the direction of the club and, by extension, their own futures, and are desperate for clarity. They are alarmed because one of the stipulations that has arisen from the sanctions is that Chelsea are unable to sign players or renew existing contracts.

On a day of uncertainty and confusion, Chelsea were:

• Blindsided by the government’s decision on Thursday morning to freeze Abramovich’s assets because of the oligarch’s ties with Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Abramovich will now need approval from the UK government before selling the Stamford Bridge club.

• Told they could compete only under a special licence that will allow them to fulfil their fixtures, but will force the club to cease many of its commercial activities, including future ticket sales, and see its broadcast money frozen.

• Hit by Three suspending its sponsorship, including the removal of its brand from shirts and around the stadium “until further notice”.

• Were banned from signing players and new contracts.

The men’s team have three important first-team players whose deals are set to end in