As money bags continue to tumble over themselves with a view to buying Chelsea from £3bn eyeing owner Roman Abramovich,Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley says the Russian has been unfairly treated.
Amanda Staveley says she ‘doesn’t think it’s fair’ that Roman Abramovich has decided to sell Chelsea because of a relationship ‘he may have’ with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, she said: “We are always going to have geopolitical issues. This world is never going to not have problems, and I know it is really hard and I am really sad today that someone [Roman Abramovich] is going to have a football club [Chelsea] taken away because of a relationship they may have with someone [Russia president Vladimir Putin]. I do not think that is particularly fair, actually, to be honest. She further dismissed concerns about the Saudi-backed £300m takeover of Newcastle.
Abramovich announced his decision to sell Chelsea on Wednesday evening, saying he believes “it is in the best interest of the club” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich has reportedly received several bids of £3bn to buy Chelsea; Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and American investor Todd Boehly are understood to be two of the parties interested in buying.
Further offers for the Champions League holders are expected, according to the PA news agency, amid high interest in one of the world’s most attractive and high-profile football assets.
But British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has ruled himself out, saying there is “no substance” to reports he is looking to bid for his boyhood club.
