Chelsea could go BUST if Abramovich is hit by sanctions as oligarch could demand £1.5bn he’s owed by club, says expert

CHELSEA could go BUST if the British government impose sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich, according to finance experts.

The Russian has injected £1.5billion into the club since his 2003 takeover, in the form of loans.

Through private company Fordstram, which actually owns Chelsea, Abramovich has underwritten any losses undertaken.

But if Abramovich's assets are frozen as part of sanctions placed on him the Russian could decide to call in the loan, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, though there is no evidence he would do so.

Maguire told : "If he feels he is being made a scapegoat for the activities of Putin then the worst-case scenario is he tries to call in the loan.

“Then we’ve got a crisis. He and Putin could argue that it is the British government that has destroyed Chelsea Football Club.

“But I suspect this government will not want to upset football fans as we have a populist government.

“I suspect Chelsea’s legal team would be going through all the options.”

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There is also no sign Abramovich is set to face sanctions from the government despite being listed as a person of interest in 2019 because of his links to "corrupt activity and practices" in Russia.

Labour MP Chris Bryant wants fans to wave Ukraine flags at Chelsea's Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

And he also believes Abramovich should not be allowed to own a British football club.

Events in Ukraine have sparked speculation of takeover talk with reports suggesting US investors have made an enquiry to purchase The Blues.

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