Setting up humanitarian aid foundation has become ‘priority’ after Chelsea sale

The humanitarian aid foundation to be set up with the £2.5billion Chelsea sale proceeds has moved a big step closer to reality.

Government chiefs have written to the independent foundation organisers, revealing their “priority” is now to complete checks and balances as quickly as possible.

Former UNICEF UK executive director Mike Penrose holds great hope the foundation he has been tasked with establishing could soon be operational.

Penrose believes the foundation could save millions of lives, with the unprecedented scale of funding setting a new standard for global humanitarianism.

Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital finally completed their £4.25billion Chelsea takeover on Monday, with Roman Abramovich selling the Stamford Bridge club after 19 years at the helm.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich’s UK Government sanctions mean the 55-year-old cannot benefit from the Chelsea sale, nor from the mooted independent foundation.

Penrose revealed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made contact with him this week, with scrutiny on plans for the foundation now being stepped up.

“We’re hoping it’s good news; the Government is showing willing, they’ve got back to us,” Penrose told the PA news agency.

“Now they’ve hit the deadline on the sale that they very much had to hit, they are now very much focused on this.

“The proposal is with the Government and they are in contact. And we hope very much that they will move on this very quickly now because the imperative is there.

“Now the sale is through they have been in contact, they’ve expressed a strong willingness to move forward on it.

“We’ve written to them with a letter of encouragement, saying that we’re really looking forward to working with them on this.

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