Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to challenge the British government in court over attempts to confiscate the £2.35 billion generated from the sale of Chelsea F.C., according to correspondence from his legal team.
Lawyers representing Abramovich have warned that the frozen funds from the 2022 sale of the Premier League club remain “wholly owned” by him and would be legally defended if the UK government attempts to seize them. The money has remained frozen in a British bank account since the sale, following sanctions imposed on Abramovich after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a letter seen by Telegraph Sport, Abramovich’s lawyers also criticised what they described as “politically charged and highly publicised statements” made by the UK government regarding the funds.
Despite the dispute, Abramovich’s legal representatives insist the billionaire is still committed to donating the proceeds to charitable causes, a pledge he made when the club was sold. They argue that government restrictions on how the money can be distributed have contributed to the continued delay.
The British government, however, maintains that the money should be directed exclusively toward humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Officials have previously warned that legal action could follow if the funds are not released under those terms.
Abramovich’s camp is pushing for greater flexibility in how the donation would be used, reportedly favouring support for all victims of the war, rather than limiting the funds to Ukraine alone.
Nearly four years after the club was sold, the billions remain frozen while negotiations and legal complexities continue. Abramovich’s lawyers have made it clear that if the UK government attempts to confiscate the funds outright, the move “will be contested in court.”
The dispute now sets the stage for a potentially significant legal battle over one of the largest sums ever tied to the sale of a football club.
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