Joe Ricketts - the father of the Chicago Cubs owners now trying to buy Chelsea - once branded Muslims "the enemy" and expressed conspiracy theories about then US president Barrack Obama in leaked emails.
The owners of Cubs - Ricketts' children Tom, Laura and Todd - have launched a bid to buy Chelsea, teaming up with billionaire hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin to form a consortium. The Blues' current owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government earlier this month for alleged links with Russian president Vladimir Putin - something which he denies. Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February.
Chelsea are currently operating under special license - restricting most of their revenue streams - due to the sanctions placed on Abramovich and face the prospect of financial collapse if the Russian oligarch doesn't sell the club in the coming weeks. The Ricketts family have owned the Chicago Cubs since October 2009, overseeing the team's first World Series title - the biggest honour in baseball - in 2016.
