Ken Bates has never been one to copy words Chelsea The owner condemns the government restrictions imposed on the club.
While the outspoken former football executive agrees with the decision to freeze the most famous Roman AbramovichAs for assets, Bates is angry that Chelsea fans and staff have also been forced to suffer, ticket sales have stalled, club facilities are closed and jobs are said to be at risk.
He does not understand what meaningful effect such measures can have. Vladimir Putin and russian invasion of ukraine‘The fact that you can’t buy Chelsea match schedules must mean that Putin himself is a s**** and all normal people in Moscow are hiding in their basements because they can’t watch Chelsea matches on TV’ . Bates speaking from his home in Monte Carlo.
‘As always it is the common people who are suffering. You’re probably asking people who work at Chelsea, do they have jobs? What is their future? Do they have security? And fans at Chelsea. What does this have to do with Putin’s bombing of maternity hospitals in Ukraine?
‘It is hurting ordinary, English citizens. Russia doesn’t care. This makes civil service the laughing stock of the world. I have worked with civil servants for most of my life and overall they are all useless.
‘ Abramovich turned and said, “I’m going to sell the club and I’m going to donate whatever I get.” They [the Government] The club has taken over. Fine. Why didn’t he appoint an administrator and continue it?
‘Instead we’ve got all these rules, which get some good headlines. ‘England took strong action against Russia.’ If we are trying to help Ukraine, we must do things that are meaningful.
Kane Bates has condemned the government sanctions imposed on his former club Chelsea
Bates famously bought Chelsea in 1982 for £1 and made an alleged deal worth around £140 million before selling it to Abramovich 19 years later.
Abramovich had become wealthy and close to Putin after acquiring state-owned assets after the breakup of the Soviet Union, then serving his first term as president, but his source of wealth was scarce in Britain at the time. . was examined.
“Selling it to a Russian was like selling it to someone else,” says Bates. ‘It was no different in those days. My dealings with him have always been straightforward and simple.
How do they react to the wealth havens of the oligarchs? ‘I have no sympathy for him. Why should I? He is worth 7-8 billion pounds. But he can only eat steak and chips twice a day like me. When he goes to his grave, there will be no pocket in his shroud.’
The government has said it would allow Abramovich to sell the club despite the restrictions. Potential bidders looking to expand Stamford Bridge will face the same problems the current owner has faced.
The brainchild of Bates during his time in charge, the Chelsea Pitch Owners Group held a leasehold for Stamford Bridge and the club’s name, giving them veto power over any proposed venue.
Bates has no sympathy for Roman Abramovich, whom he sold to Chelsea 19 years ago
However, Bates feels the sanctions are hurting Chelsea fans and their staff members
Government will allow Abramovich to sell Chelsea despite sanctions
Bates is proud that he empowered fans with an idea inspired by an enterprising Irishman he had heard about. ‘The Irish are all over the world and they become passionate about the “old land”. This man bought four acres of land north of Dublin. Sold it in pieces of square foot. 100 quid each or whatever. Then he went around the world saying that take a piece of old land.
‘I thought what a bloody clever idea. I would do the same with Chelsea. But the lawyer called me and said Ken if you do this then you are trading in the land. You will probably be charged VAT. And you have to pay the registration.
‘Then I got the idea to start a company called Chelsea Pitch Owners. I had given him a lease of 999 years on the pitch. And I made a rule that no matter how many shares you have, you only have one vote.
‘I even named them Chelsea Football Club and I said you can only use that name when you play at Stamford Bridge. So the fans own the name and the pitch. Stamford Bridge is perhaps the most valuable land in London. But it belongs to the club. this is my legacy.