UK Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston says football can manage without Russian money

UK Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston says football can «manage perfectly well without Russian investment».

The comments were made at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport session about the role of Russian money in both the ownership and sponsorship of clubs.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK because of links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

«There's plenty of other investors around the world we can work with,» said Huddleston.

«Globally, there's a lot of money in sport and in football and we can manage perfectly well without Russian investment or without Russia's investment overall.

»I really cannot see circumstances for quite a long period of time where we are going to welcome that money back, I genuinely can't.

«I don't think it would be morally acceptable, it may in many cases not be legally possible because we will still have considerable sanctions imposed on many entities.

»I don't think sport fans around the world and, in particular in this country, would find that acceptable either. They've spoken very loudly and clearly."

Abramovich had his British assets — including Chelsea — frozen as part of the UK government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A special licence granted by the government will allow the club's fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket-holders to attend matches.

Russian football clubs and national teams have been suspended from all competitions by world governing body Fifa and European counterpart Uefa, among other sporting sanctions.

«In terms of how long those sanctions last, as long as Russia continues to be a pariah on the world stage, those sanctions will last,» said Huddleston. «Nobody knows but the person who is in control of that is