Chelsea fans caught in disturbing act amid Russian owner's exit

A section of Chelsea supporters have been widely condemned after showing their support for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich one day after he was banned from owning the club due to his links to Vladimir Putin.

Chelsea played their first match on Sunday since Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government and banned by the Premier League board from running the club.

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In a game that came to symbolise the Premier League's connections to so-called "sportswashing" by owners, Kai Havertz netted an 89th-minute winner to give Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Newcastle.

Havertz used an exquisite first touch to control a cross into the box and then slotted a calm finish into the net to set off wild celebrations among the capacity crowd at Stamford Bridge.

However the talk of the football world after the game was the unsavoury actions of a small group of Chelsea fans who showed their support for Abramovich.

A banner reading 'Roman empire' was proudly displayed by a section of fans, while others declared their loyalty to the Russian billionaire outside the gates.

Chelsea have won 19 major trophies since Abramovich took over in 2003, with the Russian oligarch pouring millions of dollars into the club.

Journalist Jakub Krupa tweeted: “Imagine still flying a Russian flag to honour your sanctioned Russian oligarch owner as Russia continues a horrific and brutal invasion of a sovereign European country with thousands dead and millions displaced. Keep it classy, Chelsea.”

Football reporter Kyle Bonn wrote: “Not only is supporting Roman Abramovich irresponsible in general, this particular banner is in specifically poor taste. Embarrassing for Chelsea and its supporters.”

TV personality Piers Morgan simply tweeted "FFS", while many others were quick to condemn the Chelsea supporters.

Roman Abramovich banned by Premier League board

It may be some time before Chelsea play in front of a sold-out home stadium, but the uncertainty surrounding the club's future has so far not had an effect on the field.

Chelsea have been granted a special license to keep playing after Abramovich was sanctioned because of his ties to Putin, halting his attempt to sell the club and preventing sales of merchandise and tickets.

“I don’t want to point the finger because comparing yourself or blaming the others," Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said, "doesn’t make the situation for us a different situation.

"We condemn war and the action from Russia towards Ukraine.

"There is no doubt that we are facing the consequences actually at the moment.”

The league board's decision to disqualify Abramovich from being a director accelerates the end of the Russian oligarch's 19 years in control.

League regulations would usually require Abramovich to relinquish control within 28 days but the British government now has a say in the sale process under the terms of the license that allows the team to continue operating despite the owner's assets being frozen.

The government welcomed the Premier League's move against Abramovich, characterising the disqualification as being part of holding "those who have enabled the Putin regime" to account.

"We are open to a sale of the club and would consider an application for a license to allow that to happen," the government said.

The government now has oversight of the buyout process which the Raine Group, an investment bank, has been working on since Abramovich last week announced before being sanctioned that the club was up for sale.

with agencies

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