Roman Abramovich 'Cannot Pay' The Queen £10,000 In Rent He May Owe
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich reportedly cannot pay the Queen £10,000 worth of rent he may owe for the land his £107 million mansion is built on.
The billionaire was sanctioned last week following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and all of his assets have been frozen as a result.
According to the Daily Star, it means Abramovich cannot pay the rent for the Crown Estate land, where his 15-room Kensington mansion sits.
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It means he could lose another valuable asset on UK soil according to the Wall Street Journal.
Abramovich pays £10,000-per-year and the lease is said to be for 125 years.
It means the bill could end up as high as £160,000-per-year at a later date.
The 55-year-old has the money to pay for the property, but cannot do so under the current sanctions.
It could see the Crown Estate sue him and claim the property back.
Abramovich attempted to sell as quickly as possible when the risk of sanctions reared their head.
It's been alleged Abramovich has close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, but Abramovich has strongly denied those claims a number of times.
Chelsea are able to continue operating under a special licence from the UK government, but shirt sponsor Three will be suspending their sponsorship.
They also cannot sell merchandise or tickets to games.
When it comes to transfers, the reigning world champions cannot sign players or renew contracts.
Chelsea defeated Newcastle United 1-0 on Sunday afternoon thanks to Kai Havertz's late strike, in their first game at Stamford Bridge since Abramovich was sanctioned.
They return to action on Wednesday against Lille in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, but questions have been raised over how they get to France.
Chelsea's travel budget is restricted to £20,000 per away game and manager Thomas Tuchel joked he'd drive his side if he had to.
"My last information is we have a plane and we can go by plane and come back by plane. If not we go by train, if not by bus, if not I will drive a seven-seater," Tuchel said.
"Honestly, I will do it. You can mark my words, I will do it to arrive there.
🗣️ "We can go by plane. If not, we go by train. If not, we go by bus. If not, I drive a seven-seater!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 13, 2022
Thomas Tuchel is letting nothing stop him from getting to Lille for Chelsea's midweek Champions League fixture... 🚌 pic.twitter.com/IetZn2GRNT
"If you’d asked me 20 or 30 years ago, to be in charge of a Champions League match what I was willing to do, I’d say: ‘Ok, where do I have to be and when?’
"Why should this change? I will be there and we will be there. Of course, organisation wise, there are some negotiations going on and talks, but it doesn’t influence me."
Topics: Roman Abramovich, Chelsea, England
Daniel Marland