Chelsea news LIVE: Ricketts family join Sir Martin Broughton and Todd Boehly bids on final shortlist
Chelsea takeover: Latest updates as bidders for club set to be whittled down to shortlist of three
The Ricketts family have made the shortlist in the bid to buy Chelsea. Raine Group finally informed the Chicago Cubs owners early on Friday afternoon New York time. The Ricketts were the third consortium to receive official confirmation of making the shortlist to buy the Blues, after the Todd Boehly bid and a rival offer led by Sir Martin Broughton. The Athletic is reporting there has been a fourth bid shortlisted, from Stephen Pagluica, owner of NBA team the Boston Celtics and Serie A side Atalanta.
While the sale of Chelsea continues the club have been given a boost after the UK government amended its special operating license. The alteration will now allow Chelsea to sell tickets to away matches, cup games and women’s fixtures provided the club does not receive any revenue. This means Chelsea fans will be able to attend the club’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid and FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace at Wembley. The Premier League have said the revenue generated by ticket sales, which would normally have gone to the club, will be donated to war victims in Ukraine.
The government will now also allow Chelsea to receive £30million from its parent company, Fordstam, to allow the club to remain afloat following the sanctioning of owner Roman Abramovich and while the Premier League side is sold.
Follow all the latest Chelsea takeover news below:
Fourth bid shortlisted: Stephen Pagliuca
The Athletic is reporting there has been a fourth bid shortlisted, from Stephen Pagluica, owner of NBA team the Boston Celtics and Serie A side Atalanta.
Chelsea fans’ group call for more changes to licence
The leading Chelsea fan group, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, has asked the UK Government for clarity as to why they will be unable to buy any more tickets for the club’s remaining Premier League home games.
The Government has amended the club’s operating license to allow fans to buy tickets for cup games, away fixtures and women’s team matches, as long as Chelsea does not receive the revenue.
However, the group said in a statement: “The Trust will urgently seek clarity from the DCMS and Chelsea FC on why members will bot be able to purchase tickets to home Premier League fixtures at Stamford Bridge.
“The sanctions were not brought in to publish supporters - this decision is illogical and unfounded. Further amends must be made.”
The upcoming home match against Brentford is sold out, as tickets went on sale before Roman Abramovich was sanctioned, but the home fixture against Arsenal on April 20 could be played in front of a reduced capacity with season ticket holders only able to attend.
Ricketts family bid confirmed on shortlist
The Ricketts family have made the shortlist in the bid to buy Chelsea, the PA news agency understands.
Raine Group finally informed the Chicago Cubs owners early on Friday afternoon New York time.
The Ricketts were the third consortium to receive official confirmation of making the shortlist to buy the Blues.
Chelsea slae latest
TTodd Boehly’s consortium, Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family and Sir Martin Broughton’s offering are understood to be included on the shortlist.
New York merchant bank Raine Group informed a clutch of suitors on Thursday that their candidacy had been unsuccessful, the PA news agency understands.
Saudi Media Group and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson are understood to be among those who have already been informed they are out of the race.
Tickets and transfers: What Chelsea can do under sanction rules
The British government will allow Chelsea to sell some tickets again after easing the terms of its sanctioning license, ensuring the Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid is not played at an empty Stamford Bridge while denying the west London club the ability to gain financially.
The reigning European and world champions had been banned from selling tickets after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing invasion on Ukraine.
The oligarch’s assets were frozen but the government has now allowed £30m to be released from Chelsea’s parent company, Fordstam, to provide cash for the club to meet it costs. It equates to about a month’s wages.
Chelsea sale: Abramovich puts club up for sale
Roman Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale on 2 March amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. The Russian-Israeli billionaire was then sanctioned by the Government on 10 March with Downing Street claiming to have proven his links to Vladimir Putin.
The Blues must operate under strict Government licence, with Abramovich unable to profit from Chelsea’s sale. Downing Street must approve another new licence to authorise Chelsea’s eventual sale, with the money either frozen or distributed to charitable funds to aid victims of the war in Ukraine.
Abramovich has pledged to write off Chelsea’s £1.5bn debt and the bidding frenzy for the club could see the eventual deal hit £3bn.
Chelsea sale: Ricketts family say bid is still alive
Joe Ricketts’ son Tom Ricketts has again vowed to prove the family will meet the criteria of the supporters.
He said: “My family and I are very grateful to all the fans and supporters’ groups who took time to meet with us this week and share their passion and concerns for Chelsea Football Club. It’s clear you have nothing but the best interests of the club at heart.
“We have listened to all of your feedback - including from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust - and are grateful that the door is still open for us to demonstrate our commitment to working with fans to protect the club’s heritage.
“It is now up to us to redouble our efforts and clearly lay out a vision for our stewardship of the club with diversity and inclusion at its heart.”
Chelsea sale: Ricketts family face battle to win over fans
The Cubs-owning Ricketts family boast the financial muscle of US hedge fund supremo Ken Griffin, believing their experience of renovating storied stadium Wrigley Field offers an edge in their candidacy given Stamford Bridge’s required rebuild. However, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust says it still has concerns about the ability of the family to run “an inclusive, successful club”.
The CST’s apprehension stems from family patriarch Joe Ricketts, who is not involved in the bid to buy the Blues, being accused of Islamophobia in 2019, after a string of emails were leaked. The family, who have insisted they do not accept any kind of racism or hatred, met with the CST this week in a bid to allay fans’ concerns.
But a CST statement read: “It is essential that the new owners of the club has the confidence of the supporter base and demonstrate an understanding of the values that we stand for. That is why the strength of feeling towards the Ricketts family bid from Chelsea supporters cannot and must not be ignored.
“The CST are grateful for the Ricketts family for meeting with us this week. We challenged them on all the points supporters have raised concerns about. However, our concerns about their ability to run an inclusive, successful club on behalf of our diverse supporter base around the world have not yet been allayed.”
Chelsea sale latest: Broughton and Boehly bids lead the race
Sir Martin Broughton and Todd Boehly have had their bids shortlisted in the auction to buy Chelsea, the PA news agency understands.
Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family were also expected to make the shortlist being drawn up by New York merchant bank the Raine Group.
LA Dodgers part-owner Boehly, former Liverpool chairman Broughton and the Cubs-owning Ricketts now lead the race to take charge at Stamford Bridge.
Raine spent Thursday informing a host of unsuccessful bidders they were out of the auction before starting the process of confirming the shortlist in the race to buy the Blues.
The New York bank will dig into further details of remaining submissions once the shortlist is rubber-stamped.
US magnate Boehly and his Eldridge Industries firm has backing from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and respected British business leader Jonathan Goldstein.
Former British Airways chairman Broughton has drafted in sports business and politics heavyweight Lord Sebastian Coe, adding genuine clout to his consortium.
Wall Street investment banker Michael Klein has added a major financial edge, with a number of other backers also involved.
Eden Hazard has ‘doubts’ over Real Madrid future amid Chelsea takeover uncertainty
Eden Hazard’s latest injury setback alongside the uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s impending takeover could see him resist a move away this summer.
SPORT claim the Belgian now has “doubts” about his next move with a return to the Blues a preferred option but now increasingly uncertain.
Newcastle and Arsenal have been linked should he move this summer and Chelsea reject the chance or fail to put together an offer satisfactory for Los Blancos.
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