Chelsea

The London football club is trying to work out how it can cover the cost of playing games after the U.K. sanctioned its Russian owner.

The London football club is trying to work out how it can cover the cost of playing games after the U.K. sanctioned its Russian owner. The London football club is trying to work out how it can cover the cost of playing games after the U.K. sanctioned its Russian owner.

Chelsea's ability to operate on a day-to-day basis was impacted further after their credit cards were temporarily frozen, sources have told ESPN.

The club are still to decide what to wear on the front of their kit after shirt sponsor Three temporarily suspended their £40m-a-year (($52.4m) agreement with the club on Thursday. The club remain in dialogue with the government over easing some of the restrictions, and senior figures at Chelsea hope that their corporate credit cards will be unblocked in the coming days to allow greater financial freedom. Sources have told ESPN that the limitations on spending -- which include a cap of around £20,000 ($26,000) on travel to away matches and a £500,000 ($652,000) limit on the cost of staging home games -- have led Barclays to suspend the club's credit cards for fear of breaching government rules.

LONDON (AP) — Lavish spending, sustained only by Roman Abramovich's investment, funded Chelsea's 21 trophies during his 19 years as owner.

The club can no longer even sell merchandise with the club shop closing within hours of the sanctioning announcement on Thursday. There is also a prohibition from the government on selling new tickets to generate revenue. It’s harsh on them, and the punishment falling all the way downhill is harsh. Chelsea is also unable to sell tickets for next week's FA Cup match at Middlesbrough, hitting the second division club as well. Only five times during his ownership has Chelsea made a profit, according to the respected Swiss Ramble account on Twitter that analyzes club accounts. But the spending on travel to future games has been capped at 20,000 pounds by the government. But the government will only sanction a sale that does not see Abramovich benefit as the government tightens the screw on influential individuals it views as enabling Putin's regime. There is the prospect of the stadium being empty for a potential Champions League quarterfinal as tickets for those games would not be included for fans who bought season passes. “We will provide any update to our business relationship if and when appropriate.” The only bright spots for Chelsea on its second day as a sanctioned entity were that no more sponsors suspended deals after the jersey backer, communications firm Three, asked for its logo to be removed. Abramovich is among seven wealthy Russians who had their assets frozen by the government. Unprecedented restrictions have been placed on Chelsea’s ability to operate by the British government after owner Roman Abramovich is targeted in sanctions. LONDON (AP) — Lavish spending, sustained only by Roman Abramovich's investment, funded Chelsea's 21 trophies during his 19 years as owner.