Interesting insights by Nick Purewal on the circumstances of the sale.

I hope he's invited back and receives a proper goodbye from the fans.

Why would the current owners have Roman back for a final goodbye? The crowd would probably carry Roman up to the owners box on their shoulders and toss the Blue Co boys over the side of the west stand.

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich once offered to help John Obi Mikel when his father was kidnapped
John Obi Mikel: “My dad got kidnapped while I was playing for the national team at the World Cup 2018 in Russia and we were about to play against Argentina.

But the second time happened while I was playing for my country and I got this phone call from my brother saying that dad has been kidnapped again for the second time

I remember Roman [Abramovich] saying do you want me to send people over? Because I know if I send people over, I can get your dad out. I was like, how are you going to do this?

“He said don’t worry about that. Just let me, if you want that option, I can do it.”

8 hours ago, Scott said:

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich once offered to help John Obi Mikel when his father was kidnapped
John Obi Mikel: “My dad got kidnapped while I was playing for the national team at the World Cup 2018 in Russia and we were about to play against Argentina.

But the second time happened while I was playing for my country and I got this phone call from my brother saying that dad has been kidnapped again for the second time

I remember Roman [Abramovich] saying do you want me to send people over? Because I know if I send people over, I can get your dad out. I was like, how are you going to do this?

“He said don’t worry about that. Just let me, if you want that option, I can do it.”

Any script writers here?

51 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Any script writers here?

Speak to my agent.

9 hours ago, Scott said:

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich once offered to help John Obi Mikel when his father was kidnapped
John Obi Mikel: “My dad got kidnapped while I was playing for the national team at the World Cup 2018 in Russia and we were about to play against Argentina.

But the second time happened while I was playing for my country and I got this phone call from my brother saying that dad has been kidnapped again for the second time

I remember Roman [Abramovich] saying do you want me to send people over? Because I know if I send people over, I can get your dad out. I was like, how are you going to do this?

“He said don’t worry about that. Just let me, if you want that option, I can do it.”

It's a lovely story

But it does also say "Roman definitely had ties to the Kremlin"

True Story - the UK government are currently recruiting someone to lead policy developments and activities across the UK government to ensure that the Chelsea proceeds (Romans £2.35b) is “secured for their intended purpose” of being used for humanitarian reasons.

The job is advertised on Civil Service Jobs….titled “Policy Officer Ukraine Chelsea Proceeds”

Go for it Mod…. Frame the shed end as a humanitarian charity, and you might be able to get a piece of the pie.

16 hours ago, bisright1 said:

It's a lovely story

But it does also say "Roman definitely had ties to the Kremlin"

I'd say it was more that he had access to a private military corp. As a prominent yacht owner, he would have almost certainly have engaged one.

15 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

True Story - the UK government are currently recruiting someone to lead policy developments and activities across the UK government to ensure that the Chelsea proceeds (Romans £2.35b) is “secured for their intended purpose” of being used for humanitarian reasons.

The job is advertised on Civil Service Jobs….titled “Policy Officer Ukraine Chelsea Proceeds”

Go for it Mod…. Frame the shed end as a humanitarian charity, and you might be able to get a piece of the pie.

I've heard they got an application from a Mr B. Eghbali, who intends to use the funds to help further the footballing career of young kids from Ukraine. His resume's quite impressive, as records show his club once personally donated £62m to further the hopes and dreams of a Ukrainian street kid who, as it turned out, wasn't even a footballer.

On 09/10/2025 at 10:48, bisright1 said:

It's a lovely story

But it does also say "Roman definitely had ties to the Kremlin"

Lovely story and an old story too !! Heard it ages ago . I think probably every Oligarch has a tie to the Kremlin, but some European body responsible for sanctions against every Russian businessman removed the stuff about his businesses having connections to the war effort a while ago , admitting that there's no truth in it.

He remains sanctioned as do others for being basically a Russian.

1 hour ago, The Rising Sun said:

Lovely story and an old story too !! Heard it ages ago . I think probably every Oligarch has a tie to the Kremlin, but some European body responsible for sanctions against every Russian businessman removed the stuff about his businesses having connections to the war effort a while ago , admitting that there's no truth in it.

He remains sanctioned as do others for being basically a Russian.

In a society that is so obsessed with branding everything an ‘ism’ it does seem absolutely perplexing something so obviously racist is accepted and promoted by the government.

3 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

In a society that is so obsessed with branding everything an ‘ism’ it does seem absolutely perplexing something so obviously racist is accepted and promoted by the government.

It's not a judgement based on his race, it's a judgement based on his business decisions and his politics.

If you wanted a real example of moral hypocrisy, the UK Government took action on the basis of speculated links between Abramovich and Putin, but would apparently have no issue with the fact that Abramovich donated at least USD$100m to Israeli organisations that facilitate Palestinian genocide and displacement. It was obviously a populist decision.

Edited October 12, 2025Oct 12 by SydneyChelsea

21 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Lovely story and an old story too !! Heard it ages ago . I think probably every Oligarch has a tie to the Kremlin, but some European body responsible for sanctions against every Russian businessman removed the stuff about his businesses having connections to the war effort a while ago , admitting that there's no truth in it.

He remains sanctioned as do others for being basically a Russian.

If I remember correctly Nadine Dorries was leading the government's charge against all things Russian. Roman was singled out and Chelsea got hung out to dry. We were set up as an example and punished for Romans connection to Putin. Bad and uncertain times for supporters at least we survived thanks to Todd & co. !

Don't think the money has been distributed yet either hey ho....maybe it will have to be given back to Roman with an apology.🙂

Who knows he might be up for buying a London club in 2032

Edited October 13, 2025Oct 13 by OTL

.

Edited October 13, 2025Oct 13 by OTL

Putin had been governor of a region in Siberia under Putin, the fact that he knew the leader and submitted to his authority was what doomed him in my opinion. No credit given to what he had done for British and European football, in his first year at Chelsea his purchases saved three Italian clubs going under.

Couldn't think of anywhere else to post this. Not sure what legal action the U.K. can take against Roman.

Sky Sports

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich urged by prime mini...

Former Chelsea owner Abramovich had pledged to donate the proceeds from the 2022 sale to the people of Ukraine, but he has so far failed to reach an agreement with the Government on a way forward and

Starmer is an idiot, if he thinks he can take Roman to court on this he will lose

My understanding is that the agreement was that the money was to go to ALL people affected by the war not just Ukraine

There has been a stand-off between the UK government and Abramovich because the government wants the money to go to Ukraine, whereas Abramovich wants the money to go to "all victims" of the war, which would see some of it potentially going to Russia.

So the story about the UK Government holding the funds still and making bank off the interest was just nonsense then? Or, Starmer and the press are lying?

I hate this government. Puppets funding Ukraine when our own country is in the pits.

The club already funded them for that fraud from Shaktar

31 minutes ago, Mod said:

So the story about the UK Government holding the funds still and making bank off the interest was just nonsense then? Or, Starmer and the press are lying?

Must be that because random people on Facebook never lie about anything.

Facebook?

34 minutes ago, Mod said:

So the story about the UK Government holding the funds still and making bank off the interest was just nonsense then? Or, Starmer and the press are lying?

How dare you question Sheila from the Hairdressers who heard it from Kev then posted it on facebook....

52 minutes ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

to go to "all victims" of the war, which would see some of it potentially going to Russia.

Yes. Maybe Putin can spend it on better safety features for upper floor windows.

1. When Chelsea was sold in May 2022, the net sale proceeds were paid into a frozen UK bank account belonging to Fordstam Ltd (Abramovich’s holding company). The UK government explicitly said at the time that any onward movement of the money would need further government approval. UK Parliament

2. Because Abramovich is a sanctioned “designated person”, the money is frozen: it can’t be moved/used without a licence, and the government (via the sanctions system, including OFSI) effectively controls whether it can be released.