Of all the trophy assets owned by Russia-linked billionaires in the UK, one has always stood out: Chelsea football club. On Thursday, ownership of the London club was officially frozen after the designation of Roman Abramovich for UK sanctions.
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, lawyers for Abramovich had strenuously insisted that he did not fit the criteria for sanctions, but the UK has now become the first of the Nato allies to impose sanctions on him.
