Roman Abramovich, the Russian owner of Chelsea, whose sale has been blocked due to measures taken against his country since the start of the war in Ukraine, is perhaps not an isolated case.
The owner of Manchester City, Sheikh Mansour, has been criticized by the British government for having received Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Abu Dhabi last Friday.
During his first visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since the start of the civil war in Syria eleven years ago, the Syrian leader last week met with several influential figures.
He was pictured with Sheikh Mansour, who is UAE Deputy Prime Minister and owner of Skyblues.
A British Foreign Office spokesman said such meetings "undermine the prospect" of peace in Syria.
“The UK firmly believes that unless the Syrian regime changes its behavior, the strengthening of ties undermines the prospect of a lasting and inclusive peace in Syria.
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Labor MP Chris Bryant, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia, shared those concerns and, in an interview with The Telegraph, questioned whether Mansour was a "person worthy of owning a football club".
The wealthy owners of the two English clubs finalists in the Champions League last season (victory for Chelsea) are now in the crosshairs of British politicians.