The British government has officially added Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to the list of sanctioned individuals.
Chelsea have been given a sporting licence to continue trading whilst Abramovich's assets have been frozen, but the Stamford Bridge club has been thrown into chaos with their sale in serious doubt.
Abramovich, who purchased Chelsea back in 2003, announced he was looking to sell in a statement on March 2 in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Various interested parties have since come forward with up to 10 serious buyers putting themselves in the mix.
However, the measures put in place now block a sale unless a fresh licence is used by the Treasury, something the government is open to, provided certain criteria are met.
The club are also set to be impacted in numerous ways, including being unable to sell tickets with only season ticket holders able to attend games.
The club have been placed under a special license with strict rules, which runs until May 31 and which the government can vary, revoke or suspend at any time.
They are able to pay players and staff as well as outstanding transfer fees, but any payments received will be frozen.
They can spend a maximum of £500k on staging games and only £20k on away game travel, although there will be flexibility on that cap for Champions League games.
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The Premier League issued a statement confirming "the Government has issued an initial licence to enable Chelsea to continue to train, play its fixtures and fulfill its obligations for the rest of the season.
"The League will now work with the club and the Government to ensure the season will proceed as planned and in line with the Government’s intention."
Chelsea, meanwhile, released their own statement confirming plans for further talks with the government to try and amend some of the conditions of the licence.
Chelsea's statement reads: "Chelsea Football Club has been advised that its owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK Government.
"By virtue of his 100 per cent ownership of Chelsea FC plc and affiliated entities, Chelsea FC would normally be subject to the same sanctions regime as Mr Abramovich.
"However, the UK Government has issued a general licence that permits Chelsea FC to continue certain activities.
"We will fulfil our men’s and women’s team fixtures today against Norwich and West Ham, respectively, and intend to engage in discussions with the UK Government regarding the scope of the licence.
"This will include seeking permission for the licence to be amended in order to allow the Club to operate as normal as possible.
"We will also be seeking guidance from the UK Government on the impact of these measures on the Chelsea Foundation and its important work in our communities.
"The Club will update further when it is appropriate to do so."
CHELSEA LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest news and fall-out as Roman Abramovich is sanctioned.
A government statement on Thursday morning (March 10) confirmed news of the sanctions, stating: "Given the significant impact that today’s sanctions would have on Chelsea football club and the potential knock on effects of this, the Government has this morning published a licence which authorises a number of football-related activities to continue at Chelsea.
"This includes permissions for the club to continue playing matches and other football related activity which will in turn protect the Premier League, the wider football pyramid, loyal fans and other clubs.
"This licence will only allow certain explicitly named actions to ensure the designated individual is not able to circumvent UK sanctions.
"The licence will be kept under constant review and we will work closely with the football authorities."
The club have held an emergency board meeting in response to the news, whilst sponsors Three are reviewing their £40million a year partnership.
Nadine Dorries, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport wrote on social media: "To ensure the club can continue to compete and operate we are issuing a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches while, crucially, depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club.
"I know this brings some uncertainty, but the Government will work with the league & clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended. Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We're committed to protecting them."
Chelsea Supporters' Trust issued a statement in response which read: "The CST notes with concern the Government's statement regarding the owner," tweeted the group's official account.
"Supporters MUST be involved in any conversation regarding ongoing impacts on the club and its global fan base.
"The CST implores the Government to conduct a swift process to minimise the uncertainty over Chelsea's future, for supporters and for supporters to be given a golden share as part of a sale of the club."
Abramovich is amongst seven more Russian businesspeople to be hit by sanctions by the UK government in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
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The government sanctions list claims: “Abramovich is associated with a person who is/has been involved in destabilising Ukraine & undermining/threatening territorial integrity, sovereignty & independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom (he) has had close relationship for decades.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of the sanctions: "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."
