Велика Британія готується подати до суду на Абрамовича щодо 2,4 мільярда фунтів стерлінгів від продажу ФК "Челсі"

<p>UK officials are preparing for a possible court case against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/roman-abramovich">Roman Abramovich</a> after he missed a deadline to release £2.4bn he raised from selling Chelsea FC.</p>
<p>The Russian billionaire failed to hand over the money by the deadline of 17 March, amid a dispute over how it will eventually be used.</p>
<p>Government officials said they would now take steps to prepare for a potential court case so the money can be spent for humanitarian purposes in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine">Ukraine</a>. They have written to Abramovich’s lawyers to warn them of this.</p>
<p>They added that they would also increase support for an independent foundation that has been set up to spend the money when it is released.</p>
<p>A government spokesperson said: “We gave Roman Abramovich his last chance to do the right thing. Once again, he has failed to make the donation he committed to.</p>
<p>“We will now take further steps to ensure that the promise he made at the time of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/chelsea">Chelsea</a> sale is kept.”</p>
<p>Spokespeople for Abramovich have been contacted for comment.</p>
<p>Abramovich <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/abramovich-completes-sale-chelsea-boehly-led-consortium-2022-05-30/">sold Chelsea in 2022</a> under pressure from the British government after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Because he was under sanctions at the time, the government granted him a licence to sell the London club as long as the money was spent supporting the victims of the Ukraine war.</p>
<p>Since then, the two sides <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/06/uk-may-fight-abramovich-in-court-to-get-2bn-from-chelsea-fc-sale-for-ukraine">have been deadlocked</a> over whether the money should be spent exclusively in Ukraine or whether it can be used elsewhere. The funds are in a UK bank account controlled by Abramovich’s company, Fordstam.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/investigation-roman-abramovich-chelsea-sale-cash">the Guardian revealed</a> Fordstam’s accounts show Jersey authorities may be investigating whether the money amounts to the proceeds of crime.</p>
<p>Aid charities welcomed the government’s promise to push ahead with preparations for a court case, but warned the delays were already hurting Ukraine.</p>
<p>Bond, which represents development organisations, urged the government to issue a new licence to allow the interest accrued since the 2022 sale – thought to be around £200m – to go outside Ukraine. Ministers have said they are open to this.</p>
<p>Alison Griffin, the head of conflict and humanitarian campaigns at Save the Children, said: “The news that the government is planning to take Roman Abramovich to court to free the Chelsea fund is a significant development.</p>
<p>“However, we are deeply concerned that this will only further delay the release of these much-need funds to help support victims of the war in Ukraine.”</p>