BREAKING: UK government accused Roman Abramovich of trying to put Chelsea takeover at risk following latest development
Since March, the UK government has sanctioned Roman Abramovich, and the club has been placed up for sale.
Chelsea is set to be taken over by a group led by American businessman Todd Boehly by the end of this month for £4.25 billion.
However, a government official alleges that the £1.6 billion loan owed by Chelsea’s parent company Fordstam Limited to Camberley International Investments, a Jersey-registered account with ties to Abramovich, is causing alarm.
Last week, Abramovich issued a statement asserting that rumours that he wished to repay the £1.6 billion loan were false.
However, according to a government source, Roman Abramovich is delaying taking the necessary legal measures.
“There’s quite serious concern in government that the deal may fall apart and that Roman Abramovich is ultimately willing to let Chelsea go under,” a government source said.
“There’s alarm in government about the gap between what Abramovich has said he will do publicly and what he’s willing to commit to legally as part of the sale process.
“There are pressing deadlines this week, and if there isn’t a breakthrough, we’re quite concerned that the sale of Chelsea could be timed out by certain sporting deadlines.’
A Whitehall insider told the BBC: “Two big sticking points remain – where exactly the proceeds of the sale will be held, and what legal guarantees government will be given about the money going to good causes.
“Essentially, despite committing to all proceeds going to good causes in public, Abramovich seems unwilling to give the same legal commitments, which would have backed up his public statements of about a week ago, that in the deal neither he nor his affiliates could basically try and stake a claim to that unpaid debt between Fordstam and Camberley.
“A deal which would allow the cash to be diverted during the deal would be a breach of sanctions and is seen as a red line for ministers.”