European Parliament president Roberta Metsola has increased the pressure on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich by insisting that any wealthy Russians with ties to Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to control sports clubs.
Abramovich - who denies links with Putin - released a rare statement on Saturday when he declared that he would be handing over "stewardship and care" of Chelsea to the club's charitable foundation amid ongoing calls for sanctions to be placed on wealthy Russians with ties to the president.
Speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament on Tuesday, Metsola said: "Putin's oligarchs and those who bankroll him should no longer be able to use their purchasing power to hide behind a veneer of respectability in our cities, in our communities, or in our sports clubs."
Abramovich's brief statement on Saturday is believed to have caught Chelsea's charitable foundation by surprise, with the club's trustees unsure if they are able to own the Blues.
"During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities," Abramovich - who is still listed as the club's owner in official documents - said the statement.
"I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.
I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans."
Labour MP Chris Bryant has led calls for Abramovich's assets to be seized and for him to be banned from the UK, telling the Commons on Thursday : "Following some of the reports in The Sun and other newspapers today, I've got hold of a leaked document from 2019 from the Home Office.
"Which says, in relation to Mr Abramovich, as part of HMGs [Her Majesty's Government] Russia strategy, aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity, Abramovich remains of interests to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices.
"An example of this is Abramovich admitting in court proceedings that he paid for political influence.
"Therefore HMG is focused on ensuring individuals linked to illicit finance and malign activity are unable to base themselves in the UK and will use the relevant tools at its disposal including immigration powers to prevent this.
"That's nearly three years ago, and yet remarkably little has been done in relation. Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country?
"Surely we should be looking at seizing some of his assets, including his £152m home? And making sure that other people who've had tier one visas like this are not engaged in malign activity in the UK."
