Chelsea are back in Premier League action this evening but the football once again feels like something of a sub-plot after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions, which were announced this morning, have seen Abramovich’s assets frozen over links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Chelsea have been granted a special licence to continue football operations but there are now huge restrictions on various aspects of the club’s business, with ticket sales, contract renewals and transfer deals halted as part of the measures.
There is major uncertainty around the future of the club, with Abramovich’s plans to sell Chelsea now scuppered in the short-term, though the Government would consider an application to allow a sale to go through.
Thomas Tuchel and his players must somehow switch their focus to Carrow Road and matters on the pitch, where Norwich, fresh from a damaging defeat to relegation rivals Brentford, will be hoping to take advantage of the turmoil at Stamford Bridge.
