Chelsea’s credit card services have been temporarily halted while banks analyze the impact of Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich’s sanctions.
Despite Abramovich’s assets being frozen by the UK government, the club has been granted a special license to function.
Banks want to evaluate the license requirements to make sure they don’t violate government sanctions, and Chelsea has no idea when the suspension will be removed.
Chelsea is prohibited from receiving money for unsold match tickets, future gate proceeds for FA Cup games, or products from the club shop under the conditions of the license.
With a monthly pay bill of £28 million, this is likely to leave the club with a big shortfall.
Chelsea submitted petitions to the government on Thursday and Friday to amend the terms of the license, allowing the club to earn money from ticket sales and increasing expenditure limitations.
The current license allows for a maximum spend of £500,000 on home matches and a maximum spend of £20,000 on away matches.
Raine Group, the American investment group hired to oversee the sale before Abramovich was sanctioned, was involved in discussions about amending the license to allow for a prospective sale of the club.
Later that day, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron stated the government was in “continuous touch” with Chelsea and the Premier League, and that the Blues might seek for a “amended license.”
“I believe Chelsea have stated that they will do so, and we’ll obviously engage with the club and league to evaluate any operationally necessary alterations,” they continued.
Chelsea’s game against Newcastle at home on Sunday has already sold out, and the club will travel to Lille for a Champions League match on Wednesday. The home match against Brentford on April 2 is sold out, but tickets for subsequent games will not be available.
With 45 percent of gate receipts going to each team, it’s uncertain what will happen with the club’s FA Cup quarter-final against Championship side Middlesbrough on March 19.
Tuchel’s receptive peace message
After mobile network provider Three canceled its jersey sponsorship arrangement with Chelsea, manager Thomas Tuchel suggested that his players put a “message for peace” on their shirts.
“Perhaps the concern is more finding enough jerseys to play in, given the fines,” Tuchel continued. “However, as long as we have enough shirts and the bus has enough fuel, we will arrive and be competitive.
“This is something that everyone can count on, and it’s something that we require of ourselves, so when there’s a major storm, you dig in, gather everyone together, and stay strong to go through it.
“However, peace messages can never be wrong.”
Meanwhile, after supporters sang Abramovich’s name during Chelsea’s triumph against Norwich on Thursday, fans have been advised to stop chanting in his support.
Fans should remember that Abramovich has deep relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose dictatorship has performed “barbaric deeds” in Ukraine, according to British technology minister Chris Philp on BBC Radio Four’s Today program.
