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.

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Reflecting the intensified focus on off-field issues, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was forced to field questions after the Chelsea game about scores of executions in Saudi Arabia instead of incidents during the match. Newcastle are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City, who have become the dominant force in the Premier League over the past decade on the back of huge investment. Yet the UAE's decision to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution to condemn Russian "aggression" towards Ukraine