The UK government has warned it is prepared to take legal action against Roman Abramovich to ensure that the £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea Football Club is used to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
The funds, currently frozen in a UK bank account, have remained untouched since Abramovich sold the club in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The former Chelsea owner was sanctioned by the UK government shortly after the invasion, due to his alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin—claims he denies.
While the UK government insists the money should be directed exclusively toward Ukrainian humanitarian relief, Abramovich has proposed that the funds be distributed to “all victims of the war in Ukraine,” including those in Russia.
In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed frustration over the stalemate and stressed the government’s willingness to go to court if necessary.
“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required,” they stated.
“Our priority is to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”
They further emphasised the government’s determination to see the proceeds serve humanitarian causes, condemning the delay in reaching a resolution.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far,” the statement read.
The sale of Chelsea was made possible through a special licence issued by the UK government, with the condition that Abramovich would not profit from the transaction. However, despite being under sanctions and unable to access the funds, he remains the legal owner of the £2.5 billion.
The deadlock has drawn criticism from a House of Lords committee, which described the situation as “incomprehensible” and accused both Abramovich and the government of failing to secure a binding arrangement.
“This impasse reflects badly on both Mr Abramovich and the government, which ought to have pushed for a more binding commitment,” the committee reported last year.
As the war in Ukraine continues, pressure is mounting for the UK government to resolve the dispute and ensure the funds fulfil the humanitarian promise initially made during the sale of the club.
