Ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich faces possible lawsuit from the UK government

Former Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich is under scrutiny once again as the UK government have confirmed the possibility of him being sued.

The UK government is ramping up efforts to access the £2.5 billion raised from Chelsea Football Club’s sale in 2022, money that’s still locked due to a dispute with former owner Roman Abramovich.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have voiced growing frustration at the delay in directing the funds toward humanitarian aid for Ukraine, which was the original intention.

Abramovich, who was sanctioned by the UK over alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, agreed to sell the club with the understanding that the proceeds would support victims of the war in Ukraine.

According to Sky News, tensions have however surfaced over how “victims” should be defined, with Abramovich reportedly pushing for a broader interpretation that could include individuals in Russia.

Since the funds technically remain his property, they can’t be released without his approval or a specific license from the UK’s sanctions enforcement body.

Reeves and Lammy have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the money goes toward Ukrainian aid and warned that legal action may be taken if the deadlock isn’t broken.

The continued delay has drawn criticism from aid organizations and politicians, who are calling for swift action to honor the sale’s humanitarian promise.