Chelsea supporters urged to stop chanting for Roman Abramovich during matches

The fans continue to show their support for their former Russian owner.

Chelsea supporters continue to show their support for their sanctioned billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who has seen all his assets frozen by the UK government.

The Russian billionaire was sanctioned on Thursday, 10th of March by the Uk government for having close ties with the Russian regime that has invaded neighbours Ukraine over political issues.

Due to this sanction, Roman Abramovich will not be entitled to any profit made from the sale of the football club and profits made from his other British enterprises.

This didn’t go down well with supporters of the club as they continue to show their support for a man whose reign has brought them 21 trophies in 19 years.

Before the match between the Blues and Norwich on Thursday, supporters took to chanting Abramovich’s name to show their support for him.

However, supporters of the club have been urged to regress from such behaviour by technology minister Chris Philp.

During his interview with the BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme, the MP urged them to reconsider their actions given the barbaric acts of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I’m a football fan myself, I’m a [Crystal] Palace fan, in south London. So I understand why fans are very attached to their football clubs,” he said.

“But Roman Abramovich is someone who has been sanctioned now, yesterday morning, for his very close links to Vladimir Putin and the Putin regime.

“And I just say respectfully to the Chelsea fans, I know he’s done a lot for the club, but the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and what the Russian regime are doing to civilians – shelling maternity hospitals and shooting civilians who are fleeing down humanitarian corridors – and that is more important than football.

“And I say that as a football fan myself, and I would just ask them to keep that in mind.”

Speaking further on Abramovich’s issue, he added: “I understand why Chelsea fans have some affection for him but, when the regime he is associated with is committing atrocities, that is more important than football.

“So I would ask them to think very carefully before doing that [chanting] again because the barbaric acts of the Putin regime which Abramovich has supported is far more important than football.”

Chelsea has also lost their deal with shirt sponsors Three, with the club reported to be unable to renew contracts of some players. Some members of the first team could also leave the team this summer due to the crisis.