sport news IAN HERBERT: When will Chelsea's Roman Abramovich apologists see sense? trends now
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You have to wonder what it will take for the penny to drop among those who find scepticism about Roman Abramovich so objectionable and believe his sentimentality for their club transcends his own commercial gain.
Another week brings more proof to the contrary: Abramovich’s clash with a UK Government determined to ensure every penny of his £1.6billion loans to the club finds its way to those whose lives have been devastated by the Ukraine conflict. And to ensure not a penny reaches his children, via one of his maze of offshore trust funds.
Abramovich has become ‘more punchy’ in his demands, according to Government officials. Unanswered phone calls and Chelsea’s ‘deeply complicated’ ownership structure are making it extremely hard to follow the money.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry alongside owner Roman Abramovich back in 2017
It’s no surprise a foul tirade of abuse is generally directed at anyone questioning Abramovich’s motives. Football is a religion. Those who arrive with millions are its gods.
And Abramovich has been the smoothest of operators, without uttering a public word since he inserted himself at Stamford Bridge 19 years ago.
When he was sued by his one-time oligarch protector Boris Berezovsky in 2012, for allegedly