Victory over Norwich & West Ham amidst sanctions
Amid domestic strife, the boys and girls in blue were in good form last night, convincingly defeating both of their opponents. The men's squad easily defeated Norwich 3-1, increasing Norwich's relegation fears, while the women's team thrashed West Ham FC 4-1 in their own backyard. Unfortunately, the triumphs were not the focus of yesterday's headlines, as harsh fines were imposed on our owner, Roman Abramovich, and, by default, our dear and cherished team Chelsea FC.
The news of the sanctions has elicited mixed reactions, with some believing that Roman Abramovich is an Oligarch who amassed wealth by being friendly with a government that is actively killing unarmed civilians, while others believe that it is a bit harsh to punish an individual based on the relations their home country has with another and that if this trend continues, sanctions will run rampant throughout the world and could be used as a political tool.
What do the sanctions for Chelsea really mean?
The sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich should have resulted in the freezing of all of his assets, but thanks to a special licence granted by the UK government, the Chelsea team is still able to play its games. The exceptional license allows our men's and women's teams to play all of their scheduled games until the end of the 2021/2022 season.
Tickets for games are no longer being offered, and only tickets purchased before March 10th will be honoured. Season ticket holders, on the other hand, are excluded from this ruling and may continue to attend games as usual. There is no mention of subsequent seasons.
The Chelsea Megastore has also been shut down and our telecommunication shirt sponsor Three has suspended its sponsorship while Trivago has promised to stay with the club through thick and thin until the sanction debacle is over.
What does this mean for wages and transfers of players?
The special license granted by the UK government also allows for the wages of all Chelsea players, coaches, and personnel to be paid. Our monthly wage is believed to be around £28 million, and I am concerned that if the sanctions continue for more than a month, our club would face difficult times.
The license is claimed to be valid only until May 31st, and the UK Treasury has the authority to revoke it at any time, thereby worsening the situation at Stamford Bridge.
The sanction also makes transfers of players both in and out of the club impossible, and with players like Cezar Azpilicuetta, Toni Rudiger, and Andreas Christensen out of contract by the end of the season, they will have to find new employers unless the club can find a way to get around this sanction.
Is administration an option?
If the club is unable to carry out its commitments, administration may be an option, with a nine-point deduction immediately triggered. This appears to be a long-term issue rather than a short-term one, as the dark cloud enveloping the club would be lifted before May 31st, either through a truce between the UK government and Chelsea FC or through the club's outright sale. The latter is currently looking bleak due to sanctions imposed on our club, making it impossible for a sale to go through.
Where do we go from here?
We are Chelsea FC, and winning is our way, no matter what obstacles we encounter.
Our men's team manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that as long as his players have a shirt on their backs and a bus to take them to games, the team will be present and ready to beat every team they play bloody.
I'd want to see Chelsea play @arsenal4life soon with the angst in our bellies and dismember their souls from their bodies for all the sneering taunts they've hurled our way throughout this tough time.
Personally, I believe our club will continue to perform admirably in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
What do you believe our chances are in the face of these obstacles?
Till we see again, Remember to stay Frosty Blue!!!
Long Live Chelsea FC !!!
