Roman Abramovich, like comrade Vladimir Putin’s slow invasion of Ukraine, apparently didn’t move fast enough. His hurried attempt to exit Stamford Bridge had Harry Maguire’s pace and Vinny Jones’ touch.
The misfortunes of Chelsea over the last few days, if nothing else, illustrates how Russia failed to accurately read the Ukraine room and misjudged how the rest of the world would react.
The sanctions against Russia and the oligarchs may not have come quickly enough for some but Abramovich is stuck with a Chelsea football club where only existing season ticket holders can attend games, the club shop is closed and any transfer activity suspended. He cannot make money from the company.
Chelsea is in aspic. Only the club’s status as a ‘significant cultural asset’ has given it a special license to continue existing on life support. For the club, it is a calamity. For the rest of the world, it’s the first tangible sign of sanctions exacting a real price for the invasion of a European country.
The fallou …
- March 11, 2022
