Mobile network Three have asked to temporarily suspend their sponsorship with Chelsea after the club's owner Roman Abramovich was added to the UK government's list of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The 55-year-old is described by the government in the sanction document as a "pro-Kremlin oligarch" who has had close links to Russian president Vladimir Putin for "decades".
And as a consequence Three have asked to pause their deal as the club's shirt sponsors. That is a step short of completely terminating the deal, which is worth about £40million a year, signalling that Three could return if the club is taken over by a new owner.
