Roman Abramovich has been head of Chelsea for almost 20 years, and yesterday - in a dramatic move - the Russian owner announced that he was putting the London club up for sale.
For several days now, Abramovich has been behaving like a man who has been given a hot potato.
First announced the transfer of the group to a mutual fund.
Yesterday, according to MP Chris Bryant, he began trying to sell his properties in the city very quickly.
In addition, Swiss billionaire Weiss, Abramovich revealed to him with an offer to buy the Blues: "He is trying to get out of the team as soon as possible," Weiss said.
You landed the big bomb as stated in the evening: "I want to sell."
Abramovich's motive for liberating the empire he built is feared.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian oligarchs became a target.
In Britain, for example, some 100 have been severely sanctioned by their close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Chelsea owner - who has meanwhile remained off the list - is trying to avoid it.
The decision to transfer the group to a trust was made two days after MP Bryant revealed 2019 documents proving that Abramovich has direct ties to the Russian government and Putin, and that the parties are engaging in corrupt activities and practices.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Photo: AFP
"Mr. Abramovich is not allowed to own a football club in our country," Bryant said.
"We have to look at his assets and take action against him in the UK."
Meanwhile, Bryant praised Abramovich for the decision to move the group to loyalty, demanding that he condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine.
Chelsea, on its official website, posted a two-line response: "The situation in Ukraine is appalling and destructive. Our thoughts with the people there, everyone at the club are praying for peace."
Not just in the UK
Roman Abramovich is the best-known Russian oligarch in European football, and his story grabs most of the headlines, but he is not the only one.
Uzbek-Russian Elishar Osmanov is a business partner of Everton owner Ford Mushiri and has a sponsorship deal for the team's training ground.
Maxim Danim heads Bournemouth in the English Premier League, Valerie Op holds the Dutch Vitsa, and Dimitri Rivolovlev is the owner of French Monaco and Belgian Circle Bruges.
While Dan and Oif evaded sanctions because no connection was found between them and Putin, Osmanov's case is more similar to that of Abramovich.
The EU has imposed heavy sanctions on him following a "very close relationship" with the Russian president, and now the Liverpool team is required to sever all ties with him.
The club claim that the relationship is purely marketing, and that Osmanov does not affect the day-to-day management, but despite this - the British Parliament emphasized again this week that Everton must immediately terminate the contract with Osmanov.
In France the situation is different.
Rivolovlev, owners of Monaco and Circle Bruges, is off the list of the 400 richest Russians and Belarusians closest to Putin.
According to the newspaper La Parisienne, he has no intention of following in the footsteps of Abramovich and removing his ownership from the group.
On the contrary, Rivolovlev mentions that he made his fortune in Russia long before Putin came to power.
In his case, the owner of Monaco also wins the support of the rival.
"I have no problem with Monaco and its owners. We must support Ukraine, its athletes and its footballers, but we must not blame anyone of Russian descent."
Chelsea fans protest, Photo: AFP
Football does not seek to blame any Russian person, but only those associated with Putin.
And yet, the general feeling is that all this is happening too late, and only after the Russian president has been able to use the industry as he pleases, to twist and turn it for the benefit of his personal and political needs.
The highlight is, of course, the controversial hosting of the 2018 World Cup, but not only.
Since Putin came to power in 2000, many oligarchs have taken over the local league, and many have done so in Europe.
At the same time, the Russian giants have sponsored local football, and even international football - as in the case of Gazprom, the sponsor of FIFA and UEFA.
Today, as European governments try to fight the oligarchs who have infiltrated the heart of their football, and in Abramovich's case probably also succeed, it is hard not to recall FIFA President Gianni Infantino's speech at the opening of the World Cup four years ago, with Putin standing by: "Today, for Month, football will conquer Russia.
Then, from Russia, he will conquer the whole world. "
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