UK May Sue Abramovich Over Chelsea Funds

The British government has warned Roman Abramovich it is ready to take legal action to compel the former Chelsea FC owner to release £2.5 billion from the sale of the football club for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

The funds remain frozen in a UK bank account, still technically Abramovich’s, though he cannot access them due to UK sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Abramovich had pledged proceeds from the sale would assist “all victims of the war in Ukraine,” potentially including affected Russians. UK ministers insist the money must be directed specifically to support humanitarian needs inside Ukraine.

In a statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared: “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.” They stated their goal is “to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”

They added that it was unacceptable that no agreement had been reached, saying: “We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.”

Abramovich — sanctioned for alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he denies — was only allowed to sell Chelsea under a special UK licence that required reassurance he would not benefit from the sale. While he remains the legal owner of the money, he cannot retrieve or use it under the imposed sanctions.

The funding dispute has stalled for over two years. A report by a House of Lords committee described the situation as “incomprehensible,” saying both the government and Abramovich failed to secure a legally enforceable pathway for the funds.

The government remains firm that the money must serve those affected within Ukraine, while Abramovich’s legal team has pushed to include other groups impacted by the war.

The Chelsea sale in 2022 marked the end of Abramovich’s nearly two-decade ownership during which the club won multiple league titles and two Champions League trophies.