Tottenham boss Antonio Conte wishes his former club Chelsea all the best following the news that owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned, leaving the Blues in limbo with club activities now severely limited.
On Thursday the club were banned from selling match tickets and were even forced to close their club shop as Russian owner Abramovich was added to the UK’s sanctions list following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In addition Abramovich will not be allowed to sell the west London side and measures have been put in place to ensure he cannot profit from its activities.
A special licence allows the European champions to continue playing all of their fixtures due to its status as a ‘significant cultural asset’, but only ‘existing ticket holders’ – including fans with season tickets – will be allowed to attend games. Staff and players can still be paid.
Conte, who spent two seasons at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premier League and the FA Cup during his stay understands it’s not an easy situation for anyone involved at Chelsea.
‘Honestly I have just listened to this situation. This morning we had a training session. Is not easy, is not easy.
‘Honestly, it’s a pity, also because I was coach in this club, in Chelsea, I enjoyed two seasons.
‘Also, I won two titles, I worked in this club. It’s a pity to listen to this situation, it’s not simple for the players, it’s not simple for Thomas Tuchel, for the fans, for the whole environment, Chelsea environment.
Antonio Conte (left) has wished his former club Chelsea all the best after owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned
‘I for one hope the best, for this club, because I worked in this club, I enjoyed the two seasons.
‘For sure, I love the team, the club, that I worked in, in the past. Every team that worked in the past. I hope for the best for them.’
Conte has also urged for peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, by saying: ‘Honestly, I hope that in general, that this situation between Russia and Ukraine is going to finish, and to find a peace, because it’s too much important.
‘And then, other situations that are coming, from this conflict. I think that it’s not right.’
The news has immediately thrown Chelsea’s future– including the club’s extensive sponsorship arrangements – into doubt.
Chelsea’s shirt sponsor, the telecom brand, Three, has also placed its £40 million deal with the Blues under review, according to the Athletic.
Last year, Chelsea made £154M from commercial deals despite the coronavirus pandemic. In 2019, before Covid struck, the club earned £200M in sponsorship.
Chelsea’s shirt sponsor, the telecom’s brand, Three, has placed deal with club ‘under review’
Abramovich’s sanction was announced on Thursday morning. Speaking about the decision, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: ‘There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine.
‘Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss added: ‘Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression.
‘The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame.
‘Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop in this mission to ramp up the pressure on the Putin regime and choke off funds to his brutal war machine.’
The decision to sanction Abramovich and the six other oligarchs came after Defence minister James Heappey referred to the bombing of a maternity hospital in Ukraine was a war crime.
The decision to sanction him came after Russia bombed Mariupol’s maternity hospital (above)
He called for Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to be held to account for his actions. Therefore, the Foreign Office said the Economic Crime Bill – which is coming into force next week – will allow UK Government to move further and faster than ever on sanctions’.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the attack on the maternity hospital as an ‘atrocity’ and ‘the ultimate proof of genocide against Ukrainians’.
The hospital, in the besieged city of Mariupol, was hit ‘several times’ by high-explosive Russian bombs – one of which missed the building by yards and left a crater two-stories deep, officials said.
Other bombs scored ‘direct hits’, President Zelensky said, wounding at least 17 people.
The Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna went on to say that there is ‘no doubt’ that the hospital was deliberately ‘targeted’ by Russia.
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