[Hammie]

back to football. For me seeing Chelsea go down the tube would be great for English football. Show up that rich owners playthings is not a good basis for our football pyramid.

[kindofblue]

It was pretty sickening watching the House rise to applaud the Ukrainian ambassador when a good many of the MPs are swimming in dirty Russian money.

That’s very true of course.

It’s not just MP’s though is it?

The Russians have been funding anti fracking and other environmental groups in order to ensure continued Western dependence on Russian oil and gas.

The Chinese have also been at it big time.

The Americans have been at it longer than anyone….

[Wightblue]

All other things apart, despite being worth billions, how come Abramovitch always looks like the village idiot ?

[Tufnell_Chimes]

“The Russians have been funding anti fracking and other environmental groups in order to ensure continued Western dependence on Russian oil and gas.”

Its GufferTime! Quote your sources, Guff - fascinated in where your getting this crap.

[stayinupforever]

How come,despite being sanctioned,gets special treatment and is allowed to sell his club? Special government licence?What's that all about?

[scumslayer]

Everyone lobbies. The UK is amongst the worst for it.

[exgaffer]

“The Russians have been funding anti fracking and other environmental groups in order to ensure continued Western dependence on Russian oil and gas.”

Its GufferTime! Quote your sources, Guff - fascinated in where your getting this crap.

Well your favourite rag was reporting this as long ago as 2014 Tufnell, quoting the then Secretary General of NATO and former Danish PM.

Funny you missed that wasn’t it?

It didn’t fit your lefty narrative though did it?

They’ve been doing it for years and anyone not deliberately turning a blind eye to it would know that to be the case.

[bluebollox]

How come,despite being sanctioned,gets special treatment and is allowed to sell his club? Special government licence?What's that all about?

As I read it (the latest news on it) he isn't allowed to sell it.

[Pompeyg100]

What I don’t understand is why they can’t sell tickets etc, RA won’t benefit, the club is run at a massive loss, he doesn’t take cash out of the till in the club shop.

[bluebollox]

The very latest is Chelsea can be sold but proof must be obtained the money isn't going to RA.
Good luck with that then Chelsea.

[DeepBlue]

What I don’t understand is why they can’t sell tickets etc, RA won’t benefit, the club is run at a massive loss, he doesn’t take cash out of the till in the club shop.

But he could

[TBP]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

[TBP]

It was pretty sickening watching the House rise to applaud the Ukrainian ambassador when a good many of the MPs are swimming in dirty Russian money.

That’s very true of course.

It’s not just MP’s though is it?

The Russians have been funding anti fracking and other environmental groups in order to ensure continued Western dependence on Russian oil and gas.

The Chinese have also been at it big time.

The Americans have been at it longer than anyone….

Funding anti-fracking groups was hardly needed with Thunberg and her ilk around.

[Pompeyg100]

What I don’t understand is why they can’t sell tickets etc, RA won’t benefit, the club is run at a massive loss, he doesn’t take cash out of the till in the club shop.

But he could

The apparently have enough in the bank to pay March’s wages, then what?

[Isaac Hunt]

No problem with them paying wages.

[Isaac Hunt]

Be interesting to see how the out of contract players fare.

[Pompeyg100]

No problem with them paying wages.

No problem in what respect? Where will the money come from?

[DeepBlue]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Being a friend of Putin in the past is enough. Putin is funded by his circle of friendly oligarchs, which is why they are being targeted by so many countries. 

But don't forget the Tories are being criticised for not punishing the oligarchs enough (i.e. about 10% in number compared to most of Europe) so picking on a high profile one like RA will get enough publicity for people to think he is clamping down hard, but without having to touch any of the ones funding his party.

[firqdays]

YES - or in Prem terms be careful, be VERY careful what you wish for.

We HAVE been there got the T shirt ..... spilt some coffee on it but got away it it , not too bad, and made it clean.

And now , Thank you Michael EISNER - in Eisner we trust !

[ForeverPompey]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Supporting Putin is surely an offence against decency and humanity?

[Oct_63]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Being a friend of Putin in the past is enough. Putin is funded by his circle of friendly oligarchs, which is why they are being targeted by so many countries. 

But don't forget the Tories are being criticised for not punishing the oligarchs enough (i.e. about 10% in mumber compared to most of Europe) so picking on a high profile one like RA will get enough publicity for people to think he is clamping down hard, but without having to touch any of the ones funding his party.

Vladimir Putin has intertwined and created a 'special world' of the original oligarchs, who emerged from the loans for shares deals of the Yeltsin era. Abramovitch was one of these. They have become extremely wealthy under his presidency. Even if their personal associations with Putin are more tenuous than some of the reporting on their connections might suggest, they play an important role in the system he has created, and they occupy extremely responsible positions in the Russian economy. They are all predominantly involved in oil and gas transportation and trading and are directly key to Putin retaining ultimate control over Russias economically and politically vital oil and gas sector. They are the active, mobile, intermediaries between massive companies like Gazprom  Rosneft and Transneft and global markets. Their existence is the difference between a bureaucracy that doesn't, and can't, get things done and a group of individuals who can and profit in doing so. 
Russia  the state, is not accountable.
The UK government are saying Abramovitchs personal enrichment is related to Putin. He has become wealthy, and kept his wealth, because he delivers results and his association with Putin. He has been rewarded and protected by Putin and his corrupt system on the basis of his performance. 
The role of money in Putins system is ever present. It is the fact that this money derives from activity that is or could be found to be illegal. Oligarchs, in Putins system aren't bought off in the classic sense of that term. They are compromised, they are made vulnerable to threats. Putin was a KGB officer, threats is the essence of Putins system. Loyalty is ensured through blackmail. Corrupt, even illegal, activity will be kept secret as long as the individual continues to play the game.
They have raped Russia of its oil, gas and mineral wealth and fund Putin and his wars.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Something about it being World Cup related. He personally benefitted from his close relationship with Putin and made a bundle during the 2018 WC. Guess it left a paper trail.


The team travelling budget for all Chelsea away games - including the european games - has been capped at £20k. They're away to Lille next week - fleet of minibuses and a few of those big family tents should sort it.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Vladimir Putin has intertwined and created a 'special world' of the original oligarchs, who emerged from the loans for shares deals of the Yeltsin era. Abramovitch was one of these. They have become extremely wealthy under his presidency. Even if their personal associations with Putin are more tenuous than some of the reporting on their connections might suggest, they play an important role in the system he has created, and they occupy extremely responsible positions in the Russian economy. They are all predominantly involved in oil and gas transportation and trading and are directly key to Putin retaining ultimate control over Russias economically and politically vital oil and gas sector. They are the active, mobile, intermediaries between massive companies like Gazprom  Rosneft and Transneft and global markets. Their existence is the difference between a bureaucracy that doesn't, and can't, get things done and a group of individuals who can and profit in doing so. 
Russia  the state, is not accountable.
The UK government are saying Abramovitchs personal enrichment is related to Putin. He has become wealthy, and kept his wealth, because he delivers results and his association with Putin. He has been rewarded and protected by Putin and his corrupt system on the basis of his performance. 
The role of money in Putins system is ever present. It is the fact that this money derives from activity that is or could be found to be illegal. Oligarchs, in Putins system aren't bought off in the classic sense of that term. They are compromised, they are made vulnerable to threats. Putin was a KGB officer, threats is the essence of Putins system. Loyalty is ensured through blackmail. Corrupt, even illegal, activity will be kept secret as long as the individual continues to play the game.
They have raped Russia of its oil, gas and mineral wealth and fund Putin and his wars.

Abramovich was one of the survivors of the aluminium wars of the nineties. At the start of one year there were about 40-50 different aluminium companies. 12 months later there three - pretty brutal time.

[Oct_63]

Didn't end well for the original Boris either!.......Berezovsky

[Cressers]

It ought to be an eye-opening warning to us all how the British state can act so capriciously, so quickly.