than a managerial sacking and that's the Development Across
the world and at Chelsea Football Club yesterday
afternoon, Roman Abramovich. Chelsea owner, came out with
this statement during my nearly 20-year ownership
of Chelsea. I've always viewed my role
as a custodian of the club whose job. It is ensuring that
we're as successful as we can be today, as well as build for
the future while also playing a positive role in our
communities. I've always taken decisions with the club's best
interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That
is why I am
I am today, giving Trustees of Chelsea's charitable Foundation,
the stewardship and care
of Chelsea FC. I believe that currently they're in the best
position to look after the interests of the club
players staff and fans. Now that was yesterday
this morning not a couple of hours ago,
the club not the owner, the club have come out with this
statement, the situation in Ukraine is horrific and
devastating Chelsea FC. Thoughts are with everyone in
Ukraine.
Everyone at the club is praying for peace. Not long. After that
statement. We heard from the Labour MP in the United
Kingdom, Kris, Bryant, labor, and people Rhonda in Wales. He
said I'm worried that the
British press of fallen for the Abramovich line
on ceding control
unless and until he condemns the criminal invasion of Ukraine.
I will continue to call for the UK to sanction him and sees /
freeze his assets and it was this MP Kris Bryant who just
a week ago. In
Parliament in the UK. Originally, was the one who
said that Chelsea should no longer be 0. Owned by Roman
Abramovich. And clearly, it's not what he said in Abramovich,
a statement yesterday Robbie. Oh, it's what he didn't say. No
mention of Putin.
No mention of Ukraine. No mention of Russia,
and I should also point out. He has denied consistently over
the last 20 years, having any relationship with Vladimir
Putin, but this all points to something where he feels
the heat is coming
and he is trying to protect his asset
and the Chelsea statement that came out, Rebecca for football
club that generally does things very well. I thought was
an Moment. It was
very much ticking a box.
It was cold. It lacked. Empathy it lacked any responsibility.
It was out there and does nothing to enhance
the reputation of Chelsea and Roman Abramovich. Now, there's many
people in these many layers to this who can talk better
educated about. A lot of the issues where I can point
to is the football club in the dressing room. You've got
a League Cup final today and Thomas Chuckles talked about
being worried and distracted is talked about playing today with
a bit
of a conscience. Ants.
And I get that because
can you imagine what's going to happen live? Liverpool walk out
with we support Ukraine and the amputee that it's around
the country. And then what a Chelsea do, are they wearing
the same or they not have a turning their head to it.
If Chelsea were to win the game today,
players running around Wembley. You're achieving that they've
won The League Cup, is that the right message that a club
that's got Russian ownership. I know it's the stewardship is
gone to adjust. EV still owns it
Russian ownership.
How did how will
See players going to feel.
It's a situation
that reflects very badly on what has been a very good club.
It is a nightmare decision to make Tim Howard and Robbie
picks up a really interesting point The League Cup Final when
Billy we saw yesterday for Everton Man City. Everton
players coming out in the Ukrainian
flag City players wearing the shirts.
No war we stand with Ukraine. What on Earth the Chelsea going
to do today? Well, yeah, it's the it's the unity that brings
everyone together. And I think that when you look at football
and politics everyone wants
to keep it separate. Absolutely. And so from
the player standpoint, Point that falls all on Tom's to kill
shoulders, which is really difficult task
from the side of the of this statement. When I look at Roman
Abramovich and saying he's going to give the stewardship
of the club to the Chelsea Foundation.
I can only assume he's trying to distance himself from from
that so
assets, don't get frozen. So, that government sanctions don't
get imposed. You know, I,
I don't personally believe that when he says, Granite sky and
check are in charge of the technical decisions.
And Bruce Buck is in charge of, you know, over over seeing you
as the chairman, because then that means if the sale of
the club, if there was a Vita sale, the club and then he would have
the final decision.
If they were to buy a player for
150 million dollars
or sack their manager.
Those people are in charge of making decisions. I don't
believe that. I think ultimately those decisions
still are going to come from him. So all those tried to
distance himself
is not really done that as interesting. There's an article
that came out in the telegraph this morning by Sam Wallace. It
says even though he has done this and he's handed over
the stewardship and care to the Table Foundation. The
government, the UK government can actually
still freeze it because he still owns it. That'll be
interesting to keep an eye on. Are we seeing the beginning of
the end of abramovich's Chelsea? Solutely, I think so.
Domino effect, Rebecca Lynn. The longer that this continues,
the more likely he's going to be losing the
football club. There is apparently one interested
Suitor for Chelsea Football Club according again to
the telegraph this morning, although at the moment. No
change of ownership. Roman Abramovich. Still owns Chelsea
Football Club.