Brutal new Roman Abramovich sanctions leave Chelsea sale in disarray

The immediate future of the Chelsea Football Club has been thrown into question after a series of extraordinary new sanctions were imposed on club owner, Roman Abramovich.

The Russian billionaire - a close associate of President Vladimir Putin - last week confirmed that he is selling the English Premier League club giant, in the latest fallout to the war in Ukraine.

'BEDLAM': Football world loses it over 'unbelievable' scenes

'UNFORGIVABLE': Premier League legends savage Man United act

SAD: Ukrainian football stars break down on field in heartbreaking moment

Abramovich was understood to be in the midst of a 'fire sale' of his British assets, increasingly concerned that they would be frozen by the British government.

Included in Abramovich's British assets is a property portfolio said to be worth a staggering $366 million.

By far his biggest British asset, however, is the football club that Forbes valued at £2.4billion (A$4.4 billion) on April 2021, before Chelsea went on to win a second Champions League title.

Abramovich's plans to sell the club have now been thrown into disarray, with the club now effectively controlled by the British government after tough new sanctions against Abramovich.

That process is now on hold, leaving the west London club, ranked by Forbes as the seventh most valuable in world football, in a state of limbo, operating under a special government licence.

"The licence is a safety net to protect the sport, the Premier League, the wider football pyramid down to the grassroots game, loyal fans and other clubs," the UK government said on Thursday.

"It will deprive Mr Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club and mean he cannot circumvent UK sanctions."

In some of the most damaging sanctions for Chelsea, the club will not be able to sell any new tickets to future matches or sell any merchandise, with the club shop at Stamford Bridge now closed.

Chelsea, who are third in the Premier League and in the last 16 of the Champions League, will be able to play their games and pay their players while broadcasters will be permitted to show their matches on television.

Only fans who have already purchased tickets or who have season tickets will be allowed to attend matches, the government said, with no new match tickets or merchandising sales permitted.

The club will not be able to enter into transfer deals for new players or receive money for selling existing players - effectively a transfer ban.

But the club will be able to continue paying the wages of all employees, including their playing and coaching staff.

The Russian bought the club in 2003 for a reported 140 million pounds ($A250 million) and his investment resulted in the most successful era in their history.

Abramovich had funded Chelsea via 1.5 billion pounds ($A2.7 billion) in total loans through Fordstam Limited, the entity through which he owns the club.

Yet now there is a huge question mark over the club's future.

Chelsea said they would seek changes to the licence they are now operating under.

"(We) intend to engage in discussions with the UK Government regarding the scope of the licence. This will include seeking permission for the licence to be amended in order to allow the Club to operate as normal as possible," the club said in a statement.

Potential buyers were lining up to make a play

A number of potential new owners had emerged in the past week, including several American sports executives, but there is now a block on any sale.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that block could be lifted in the future if another licence is agreed to.

"We would have to grant a further licence. I think it is fair to say the government is open to the sale of the club, but ... currently, it would require another licence and that would require a further conversation with the Treasury (finance ministry)," he told reporters.

"The principle has been to mitigate the impact on fans ..., these measures are designed to punish those close to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

A source close to Chelsea said on Wednesday that the expectation within the club was that a deal would be done "sooner rather than later".

British government Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said the moves were aimed at "depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club".

"I know this brings some uncertainty, but the Government will work with the league and clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended," Dorries said in a statement.

"Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We're committed to protecting them."

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.