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The Premier League has disqualified Roman Abramovich from running Chelsea football club after the Russian owner was sanctioned by the British government over Russia's war on Ukraine.
- Chelsea will still be able to play all its matches, despite Mr Abramovich's disqualification
- The 55-year-old has owned Chelsea since 2003, winning five Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles
- Mr Abramovich's proposed sale of the club is being overseen by the UK government
The announcement that Mr Abramovich had been disqualified from being a club director was made by the league's board.
"The board's decision does not impact on the club's ability to train and play its fixtures, as set out under the terms of a licence issued by the government which expires on 31 May 2022," the league said.
The Russian oligarch has owned Chelsea since 2003.
Earlier this week, the British government imposed a travel ban and asset freezes on Mr Abramovich as one of seven wealthy Russians who were sanctioned.
He was banned from visiting the UK and was barred from transactions with UK individuals and businesses.
The government said it would allow Chelsea to continue playing matches but staff members had company credit cards from Barclaycard frozen as a result of the sanctions.
Bowing to pressure against his ongoing ownership, Mr Abramovich had already announced before being sanctioned that he would put Chelsea up for sale.
The British government now has oversight of the sale process which the Raine Group, an investment bank, is working on.
Mr Abramovich originally hoped to divert the proceeds into a new foundation for the victims of the war in Ukraine, which he is yet to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching.
But the government will only sanction a sale that does not see Mr Abramovich benefit as it tightens the screw on influential individuals it views as enabling Putin's regime.
"Proceeds from any sale could not go to the sanctioned individual while he is subject to sanctions," the government has said.
Some Chelsea fans have continued to stand by Abramovich during the opening two weeks of the war, even chanting his name at a game last weekend that the league hoped to use to show solidarity to Ukraine and the victims of Russia's invasion.
Chelsea, who are third on the Premier League table behind Manchester City and Liverpool, host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.
With Mr Abramovich injecting 1.5 billion pounds ($2.7 billion) into the club, Chelsea's impressive list of silverware under his ownership includes five Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns.
AP/ABC