It's not the best time to be particularly be a Chelsea fan, especially if you're a registered, season ticket holder who is very immersed in the club rather than supporting from the outside. Even for those supporting from the outside, it's not a good feeling with all that is happening around the club.
The quick turn of events in the sanctioning of owner Roman Abrahimovic has left me with questions I find difficult to answer. Is this really about his relationship with Russian president, Vladimir Putin? Is this a vendetta against him? Have they been meaning to come at him before, now using this as a smokescreen? What happened to all the goodwill he's enjoyed as a result of all the good he's done for the UK economy due to his huge investments?
All his assets estimated to be worth around £9.4 billion have been frozen by the UK government and by extension, Chelsea Football Club, which he bought for around £149 million in 2003. Fast forward 19 years down the lane, he has grown this business called Chelsea over 1600% as the Blues were estimated to be worth about £2.3 billion. This was as at April 2021 according to Forbes and before they won the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
He has shown the club so much love all through his reign, using his money to grow the brand Chelsea. Asides from the fact that he has pumped his personal money into this club and they've been the most successful they have been in their history under him, he has also loaned the club about £1.5 billion. How then do you wake up and rid a man of all of these years of investment because of his association with someone who is doing wrong, when in fact they have been no proof that he is an accomplice in the crime being committed by Putin.
Yes, they have bee allegations that he sponsors the manufacturing of the steel used for the iron tanks being employed in this inhumane invasion in Ukraine, this is something anyone could have done for their country as a means of contributing to their country's development and defence. Is there any proof that he sponsored this specifically to be used against Ukraine?
Looking at it critically, this is more of the games in politics that again, have been allowed to mix with sports despite several claims that both are not to be mixed, and this wouldn't have made the headlines if the perpetrators dined with the UK and their alliances. At least, we've seen China and Israel commit crimes against Palestinians and the Uighyur Muslims respectively, no action was taken to sanction these countries, neither were this businesses frozen. Even those like Mesut Ozil who dared to speak were victimized.
On the flip side, is the UK government not thinking that whatever harm it thinks its bringing upon Abrahimovic is invariably against its own people? How many jobs has Chelsea created from Britons? Or are all employees at Chelsea also Russian? Chelsea also currently run a foundation. Is this foundation beneficial to Russians?
Like the popular maxim; where two elephants fight, the grasses there suffer; this is the story of the innocent workers that could potentially be laid off in all of these and of course, the players, whose careers can be stalled as a result. When a club is not able to rack up revenue like it used to do, how do you expect them to cater for their employees?
I cannot blame brands who have decided to cease relationship with Chelsea after these sanctions as these things would find their ways to hunt the brands and even when they don't, the government could still victimize them - the likes of Three (Chelsea shirt sponsor) and of late, Hyundai. Also heard that Nike, who had initially pledged to stand by the club are also reconsidering. Despite all of these a brand like Trivago has decided to stick with the club. I commend the company and its decision makers who have taken this bold decision. Let's hope they won't make a u-turn.
As it stands, Chelsea may have to wear shirts that have Trivago in front rather than "3", their regular sponsors. 3 had suspended the relationship before their game against Norwich City on Thursday, but Chelsea's lack of options at that time meant they had no choice but to use the jerseys with the 3 logo. If Chelsea are unable to get new jerseys, especially based on the financial restrictions on the club's spending, they could jolly well just look for a means to cover the 3 logo in front of their already produced shirts.
We all condemn what Russia is doing in Ukraine, nonetheless, the UK government should be diplomatic in treating issues like this.
Abrahimovic has shown his love for the club and has reportedly given the UK government the go-ahead to sell the club, which means he would not get a penny from the proceeds of the sale. What more love can a man show?
While the UK government is purportedly showing solidarity with Ukraine, the chain of their actions leave questions begging for answers.
As an Arsenal fan it is my joy that a rival club like Chelsea. However, this should be as a result of footballing decisions and indecisions, not by seemingly government crackdown. This is one of the perks of foreign investments; the business is not always yours.
I strongly hope that all of this is sorted soonest, looking most likely by a sale as there have emerged reports of a Saudi media company with a yearly turnover of about £770 million ($1 million) who are interested in the purchase. Even with a Saudi owner aren't there questions about the morality of this same Saudi Arabia, especially with the killing of America-based journalist, Jamal Kashaoggi in Turkey by agents of the Saudi prince, Salman, which led to mild protests when Newcastle was bought over by a Saudi Consortium. That has died down obviously and for the discerning ones, the reason is clear.
Politics and football cannot be be totally mutually exclusive. They have a point of intersection, which we have see over the years.
Lets hope for better days ahead for Chelsea.