Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is ‘furious’ after being ‘blindsided’ by the fierce criticism that greeted European Super League plans as Russian now has ‘concerns for his legacy and reputation’ despite backing out of controversial breakaway competition
- Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich is ‘furious’ at the backlash at Super League plans
- The Russian is said to have been ‘blindsided’ by the negative response to it
- He now has ‘concerns’ for his legacy and reputation, despite backing out of it
- Club’s supporters trust have demanded Chelsea’s chairman and CEO quit
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is said to be ‘furious’ and concerned for his legacy after being ‘blindsided’ by the backlash at the club’s willingness to take part in the axed European Super League.
The Blues and the rest of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ all signed up to a breakaway competition with three teams from Spain and three from Italy but within 48 hours it collapsed amid backlash from fans, players, managers and pundits.
Chelsea were one of the first, along with Manchester City, teams to withdraw from the Super League before the other four English clubs followed suit. On Wednesday, its founder, Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, admitted the project lies in tatters.
Roman Abramovich is said to be ‘furious’ after being ‘blindsided’ by the backlash at Chelsea’s willingness to take part in the axed European Super League
Chelsea fans strongly protested their club’s participation outside Stamford Bridge on Tuesday
Chelsea fans strongly protested their club’s participation in the competition outside Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night before the 0-0 Premier League draw with Brighton.
Technical director Petr Cech even had to join the protest to plead with fans to move out of the way so their team coach could get into Stamford Bridge.
According to The Mirror, Abramovich ‘trusted’ the judgement of Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck that joining a closed Super League was in the best interests of the club.
However, the Russian billionaire is now said to be ‘furious’ after being ‘blindsided’ by the sheer anger and frustration felt by fans at the proposals.
Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003 for £140million, is said to have ‘concerns’ over his legacy and reputation among the club’s fan base after signing up to the Super League.
Chelsea’s statement on Tuesday night read: ‘As reported earlier this evening, Chelsea Football Club can confirm that it has begun the formal procedures for withdrawal from the group developing plans for a European Super League.
‘Having joined the group late last week, we have now had time to consider the matter fully and have decided that our continued participation in these plans would not be in the best interests of the Club, our supporters or the wider football community.’
It comes after the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust called for Buck and chief executive Guy Laurence to tender their resignations on Wednesday.
Buck – who informed Chelsea’s players of the club’s intention to join the Super League in a meeting on Monday before their dramatic withdrawal – has been chairman since 2003, while Laurence was appointed in his current role in January 2018.
In a statement, the club’s official supporters’ trust expressed zero confidence in the board, and demanded Buck and Laurence leave as well as an in-depth look at why the club signed up for plans for the breakaway league.
‘It has been confirmed that Chelsea Football Club is officially withdrawing their intention to join the European Super League,’ it read. ‘Whilst this is a huge win for supporters worldwide, our fight to secure the proper future of the club will continue.
‘The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust is appalled with the tone and insincerity of the statement issued by CFC today.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust have since called for chairman Buck to resign from his role
Supporters trust say the position of chief executive Guy Laurence (third from left) is untenable
‘We request a full and in-depth explanation as to why the board took the decision to turn their back on the European competition and for CFC to explain why they signed up to the Super League without prior consultation with their loyal supporters.
‘We are disappointed that an apology has not been included in the statement. The legacy of our club was put at risk for what appears to have been solely for financial gain.
‘The CST presently have little or no confidence in our current leadership at board level. On Monday, Bruce Buck extensively defended CFC’s plan to remain in the Super League at a fans’ forum meeting.
‘Buck, alongside Laurence, appears to have given no consideration towards the loyal supporters, so their positions would seem untenable moving forward,’ the statement continued.
‘Our relations with CFC will remain frayed until we have a better understanding of why this decision happened and we are assured that change and safeguards are put in place.
‘The CST will not rest until we are comfortable that change and protections are put in place, because 116 years of history was jeopardised. This is our club and will remain our club.’