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sports Diahuebs 3 Maart 2022

Abramovich selling Chelsea in fallout from Russia’s invasion

(AP) — Faced with the with three other people. seize his assets.
threat of financial sanc-
tions targeting Russians, However, Abramovich insist- The speed of Abramovich’s
Chelsea owner Roman ed that “the sale of the club pending exit from Chelsea
Abramovich confirmed will not be fast-tracked but is striking as he was trying
Wednesday he is trying to will follow due process.” to instigate a plan this past
sell the Premier League weekend to relinquish some
club he turned into an The billionaire oligarch said control in order to keep the
elite trophy-winning ma- he will not be asking to be club under his ownership,
chine with his lavish in- repaid 1.5 billion pounds ($2 announcing plans to shift the
vestment. billion) in loans he has grant- “stewardship and care” of the
ed the club during 19 years of club to its foundation trust-
Abramovich’s trophy asset injecting cash to elevate the ees.
made him a high-profile tar- team into one of the most
get for politicians demand- successful in Europe. The “I hope that I will be able to
ing he be included among set of every major trophy was visit Stamford Bridge one last
wealthy and influential Rus- completed last month when time to say goodbye to all of
sians hit with British sanc- Chelsea won the Club World you in person,” Abramovich publicly but did give an in- taking longer than usual to go
tions after a week of Russia’s Cup. said. “It has been a privilege terview to Forbes last year, in through and was withdrawn.
war on Ukraine. of a lifetime to be part of part explaining the purchase That came at a time when
“I have instructed my team to Chelsea FC and I am proud of Chelsea in 2003 for 140 Britain pledged to review the
“Please know that this has set up a charitable foundation of all our joint achievements. million pounds including 75 long-term visas of rich Rus-
been an incredibly difficult where all net proceeds from Chelsea Football Club and million pounds of debt. sians in the aftermath of the
decision to make, and it pains the sale will be donated,” he its supporters will always be poisonings of Russian former
me to part with the club in said. “The foundation will be in my heart.” “In hindsight, especially spy Sergei Skripal and his
this manner,” Abramovich for the benefit of all victims with the public profile it daughter in the English city
said in a statement. “How- of the war in Ukraine.” Chelsea had won the league would bring me, maybe I of Salisbury. Britain blamed
ever, I do believe this is in the title only once — in 1955 — would have thought differ- Russia for the pair’s exposure
best interest of the club.” Abramovich has faced calls to when Abramovich bought ently about owning a club,” to a nerve agent, an allegation
condemn Russia’s attack on the club in 2003. Helped by Abramovich was quoted as Moscow denies.
It is one of the most stun- Ukraine, which he so far has a number of expensive sign- telling Forbes. “But, at the
ning business repercussions not done. ings, the club won the Pre- time, I just saw this incred- In 2012, a High Court judge
of President Vladimir Putin’s mier League title two years ible game and that I wanted in London highlighted
decision to invade Russia’s Parliamentary privilege had later and has added four more to be a part of that in one way Abramovich’s connections to
neighbor. been used by Labour Party since then, most recently in or another.” Putin in a ruling related to a
legislator Chris Bryant to 2017. legal battle. Judge Elizabeth
One potential buyer had al- claim in the House of Com- His last public visit to a match Gloster said Abramovich had
ready gone public to reveal mons that Abramovich was The haul of 18 trophies in at Stamford Bridge was last “very good relations” and
Abramovich was trying to already looking to sell Lon- 19 years also includes two year after also hosting Israeli “privileged access” to Putin
sell with a price tag of at least don properties, speculating Champions League titles and President Isaac Herzog at the though adding he could not
$2.5 billion floated. Swiss that “he’s terrified of being the Club World Cup success stadium in November. “pull the presidential strings.”
billionaire Hansjorg Wyss sanctioned.” he was in Abu Dhabi to wit-
claimed he “received an of- ness last month. Abramovich has not had a Abramovich has denied tak-
fer on Tuesday to buy Chel- Abramovich has not com- British visa since 2018 when ing any orders from Putin.
sea from Abramovich” along mented on any attempts to Abramovich rarely speaks a renewal application was

Tiger Woods beats out Mickelson for $8 million impact bonus

(AP) — Tiger Woods still Mickelson took to Twitter in Woods rated first in Google Nielsen rating. iera last year for his Genesis
moves the needle in golf December to “thank all the Search, Meltwater and Q- Invitational. Two days later,
even when he barely plays. crazies (and real supporters) score. He was No. 8 in the Woods had a Sunday appear- he drove his SUV across a
for helping him win the PIP. MVP Index and 43rd in the ance in the CBS booth at Riv- median at a high rate of speed
The PGA Tour informed and it tumbled down a hill on
players on Wednesday that He ended his message with a suburban road in Los Ange-
Woods was the winner of the words that didn’t age well: les.
new $40 million “Player Im- “P.S. I’ll try and find an-
pact Program” that rewards other hot controversial topic The PIP program goes to $50
those who generate the most soon??” million this year.
positive interest in golf mea-
sured by five metrics. Woods responded with one The player gets half of the
word above Mickelson’s bonus up front, and the sec-
Woods won the $8 million tweet — “Whoops.” ond installment is paid when
prize over Phil Mickelson, a player completes a PGA
who claimed on Twitter in Mickelson’s public image Tour service day and plays in
December that he was the has been badly damaged in one designated tournament
winner. recent weeks for revealing agreed upon by the player
in an interview with Alan and tour or an “equivalent
The tour had said the pro- Shipnuck, who is writing an activity.”
gram would be measured unauthorized biography on
through the end of the year. him, that he was willing to Woods has not played a PGA
Woods captivated golf in De- support a Saudi-funded ri- Tour event since the Masters
cember when he returned val golf league as leverage — in November 2020 and has
from a shattered right leg in while acknowledging the hu- not indicated when he would
a February car accident to man rights atrocities in Saudi be able to play again. He rode
play the PNC Championship Arabia — to get changes he a cart in the PNC Champi-
with his son, Charlie. They wants on the PGA Tour. onship.
finished second.