Roman Abramovich refuses to sign for the £2.3 billion Ukraine will receive from Chelsea

The £2.3bn proceeds from the sale of Chelsea more than a year ago may not, if at all, reach the victims of Russia’s war against Ukraine this year.

The sticking point seems to be that Roman Abramovich wants a significant portion of the money to go to Russia, or rather to the Russians affected by the conflict. And neither the UK government nor the European Commission will agree to such a move as long as Russia is subject to sanctions over Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine.

Astonishingly, it appears that Abramovich, himself a sanctioned individual due to his close ties to the Putin regime, will have to “sign” for the release of the funds, which he has so far refused because he wants the money to go into both Russia and Russia. shared in Russia. Ukraine.

Foreign Office sources have confirmed that this is the case, pointing out that Secretary of State James Cleverly said last week that he could not guarantee the money would be released before the government goes into summer recess next month. Ministers return in September.

Smartly put: ‘We want to ensure that the money that is released only ends up with the recipients for whom it is intended. I need complete reassurance that that is the case.’

Sanctions have been imposed against Russia because of Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine

Abramovich himself is a sanctioned individual due to his close ties to the Putin regime

A source close to the funds said: ‘We hoped the money would be transferred last summer, then we hoped for developments in January.

“Now we hope that money will arrive in Ukraine before the harsh winter sets in again towards the end of the year, but there are currently no guarantees that this will happen.”

Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea last year knowing he would face penalties. American billionaire Todd Boehly paid £2.5bn for the club, leaving £2.3bn after transaction-related costs. At the time of the sale, Abramovich’s press office said he “wanted the proceeds to be transferred to a charitable foundation for the needs of the victims on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”

The £2.3bn is still in a frozen UK bank account belonging to Fordstam, a company controlled by Abramovich, and the State Department has yet to give the go-ahead for the money to be transferred.

Rules surrounding the release of the money allow it to be transferred exclusively to Ukrainian humanitarian causes.

Cleverly told a parliamentary committee that a foundation set up to manage the billions was not ready to receive the funds. Sources close to the charity told Mail Sport they had been ready for several months.

James Cleverly said a foundation set up to manage the billions was not ready to receive them

England plays the leading role in PR salary talks

Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson are leading talks with the PFA in an effort to have the FA’s commercial revenues of England players controlled by the union.

The FA, which last week renewed a long-term sponsorship deal with Mars, earned £91.3 million in commercial revenue last year. The FA relies on English stars doing PR work to promote the brands they work with.

The players share an annual pot worth £6 million of the £91 million, or 6.6 per cent, which translates to around £150,000 each from this source for established international players each year.

Sources close to the team say their problem is not necessarily money. Most England players earn £150,000 from their clubs in three weeks or less. Rather, they are concerned about an increase in the amount of time they have to spend on commercial activities on behalf of the FA’s partners.

England will play North Macedonia in a European Championship qualifier tomorrow and it is hoped a deal with the PFA can be finalized before the European Championships start next summer.

Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson are leading talks with the PFA on commercial revenue

Heskey’s celebrity bar has been liquidated by debt

A famous bar and restaurant funded by former England striker Emile Heskey and run by his wife Chantelle in footballers paradise Alderley Edge has been liquidated by court with debts of £163,000.

New documents filed with Companies House show that a winding-up order was served on May 30, marking the end of the venue, dubbed Parea, which opened in 2018. It was closed earlier this year after a local catering company filed for liquidation due to unpaid debts.

Parea was a regular haunt of footballers and TV stars, including Real Housewives of Cheshire regulars. It made headlines in 2019 when, at a first anniversary party, sushi was served to a half-naked woman lying on a table, her modesty largely preserved by some leaves and salmon nibbles.

Emile Heskey’s bar and restaurant has been liquidated by court with £163,000 in debt

Long line for Manchester United season tickets and City tickets

Manchester United and Manchester City both have an astonishing 120,000 fans on their waiting lists for season tickets. Elsewhere in England’s top division, only Tottenham, with a waiting list of 98,000 fans, comes close.

United recently appointed Populous, the chief planners behind the new Wembley and Tottenham stadium, to consider options for an extension to Old Trafford to increase capacity beyond the current 74,000.

Officials have been informed that the cost of rebuilding Old Trafford could reach £1billion, but they certainly won’t have any trouble filling a larger stadium, it seems. Champions City recently submitted a planning application for a 7,000 capacity expansion at the Etihad.

Clubs such as Liverpool and Luton have closed their waiting lists for season tickets.