Micah Richards blasts Chelsea for unclear update on Russian owner Roman Abramovich stepping away

Micah Richards has criticised Roman Abramovich after the Chelsea owner handed the club over to the trustees of the club’s charitable foundation.

Abramovich, who became Chelsea’s owner in 2003, made the decision following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It isn’t currently clear whether Abramovich will be sanctioned by the UK government. 

Richards said that Chelsea’s statement regarding the situation was unclear and ‘poor’

In a statement on Chelsea’s official website, Abramovich said: ‘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.

‘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.’

Former Manchester City defender Richards felt that Abramovich’s statement was unclear. 

Reports suggest that if he isn’t sanctioned Abramovich could continue to invest into Chelsea

Speaking on Sky Sports, Richards said: ‘We need more than that. After all the devastation we’ve seen in Ukraine over the last couple of days, to just come out with a statement and say you’re handing it over to a charity, I think it’s poor. 

‘I think they can do a lot more than that, and there’s so many questions that need to be asked. What does that statement even mean? If you read the statement, it’s almost like it’s written in a code, like ‘we don’t want to tell you what’s happening but, here you go, read this and pick the bones out of it and see exactly what it means.’ 

Richards feels that greater clarity is needed on Abramovich’s situation and accused Chelsea of being deliberately vague in the way in which they communicated the news. 

According to The Telegraph, Abramovich will remain as Chelsea’s owner and will still invest money into the club provided that he isn’t sanctioned. 

Abramovich (pictured above with Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2016) is reported to have been effectively barred from living in Britain ever again

The trustees of the Chelsea Foundation are Bruce Buck, John Devine, Emma Hayes, Piara Powar, Seb Coe and Hugh Roberston.

Parliament was told Abramovich had been named as a person of interest in 2019 because of alleged links to the Russian state and alleged ‘association with corrupt activity and practices’.

On Friday night it was claimed any attempts to place sanctions upon him could have been disastrous for the club. 

The billionaire was named in papers leaked to an MP on Friday that linked him to Vladimir Putin’s regime and ‘public association with corrupt activity and practices’.

The release of the Home Office document led to calls for him to be stripped of his right to own a football club in Britain.

Downing Street did not name him among those to be punished in the wake of Putin’s strike against Kyiv, instead naming five senior Russia-based cronies of the regime.

Chelsea have enjoyed much success since Abramovich took over and have frequently spent significant amounts in the transfer market.