Russia-Ukraine riots: Abramovic hands over ‘stewardship and care of’ Chelseas

Owner of English Premiership side Chelsea, Roman Abramovic, has handed over to the trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and and care of the club, the club has announced in a statement on Saturday.

The move by Abramovic comes as a response to his country Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and he has described his decision as one which is born out of ‘the Club’s best interest’ which he has at heart. Abramovic, 55, will however, continue as the owner of Chelsea, but has distanced himself from the day to day activities of the club, probably with the intentions of maintaining the clean image of the club in the eyes of the international community.

“I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans”, a club statement on Saturday read.

Abramovic who ranked 50th richest man in the world in 2010 according to Forbes rankings, is a key Russian personality and one of the country’s richest personalities. Chelsea’s statement reflected on Abramovic’s 20 years of staying on with the club as its owner, and what his ideas have been.

“During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the Club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities”, the statement added.

Chelsea have won every trophy there is to be won under the ownership of Russia’s Abramovic, having won Champions League twice, five times of both the Premier League and FA Cup , the Europa League on two occasions and the League Cup three times. They won the Uefa Super Cup back in August last year, and won their first ever Club World Cup just recently to complete the haul.

The situation between Russia and Ukraine currently, though a political one, has had and continue to have a hug negative effect on football and sports at large, and it’s a matter of time to see how much it may affect the fate of Chelsea as a football club.