Roman Abramovich cannot sell Chelsea Football Club.
The Russian oligarch has been looking to sell the Blues for the past week, with the threat of UK government sanctions hanging over him due to reported close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ina statement last Wednesday, Abramovich said: "I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC.
"As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners.
"The sale of the club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and club."
There were a number of interested parties in the club and it did look, despite the suggestion it would not be fast-tracked, that a sale would go through sooner rather than later.
However, that can now not happen.
Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government, who have said that he has had ties with Putin "for decades".
Chelsea have been handed a special football licence to continue football activities, but all of Abramovich's assets have been frozen and he has been prevented from doing any business whatsoever, which means any takeover has now been put on hold.
