‘One man is really responsible and that’s Vladimir Putin’
Jurgen Klopp has backed the UK Government’s decision to sanction Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich due to his close ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the government on Thursday, with the 55-year-old one of several high-profile Russians with interests in the UK named in a government report, which has seen all of their assets frozen.
While the Blues are still able to operate under a special license which runs until May 31, the club is not allowed to sell tickets, merchandise or buy and sell players.
The Russian billionaire announced that he had put the west London club up for sale last week, and he may still be able to sell the club as long as he doesn’t benefit financially.
It is also thought that the Blues – who pay out a staggering £28million a month in wages – could go bust in just 17 days and will ‘beg’ the Government to ease sanctions on them, with the most recent accounts showing reserves of £16million.
🗣 "What the British government did was right."
Jurgen Klopp agrees with the decision for the UK government to impose sanctions on Chelsea pic.twitter.com/DuLew0aHFz
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 11, 2022
Reacting to the situation at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool boss Klopp said: “Thomas [Tuchel] and I know each other but we are not that close that we chat around the games yes but not in other moments.
“For him and the players and all the employees at Chelsea it’s not something they are responsible for what is happening around them.
“One man is really responsible and that’s Vladimir Putin.
“I don’t know about Roman Abramovich’s role in these kinds of things but over the years you could guess maybe he is pretty close.
“I think what the British government did was right to be 100 per cent honest but it is still not cool for all the people at Chelsea and the supporters, I get that but I think the things the government did was right.”
Canada has also imposed sanctions on five Russian individuals including Abramovich, Prime Minister Justin confirmed on Friday.
Related links:
WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?
RELATED ARTICLES
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Politicians criticise ‘thugs’ after sectarian graffiti appears ahead of All-Ireland final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-sectarianism.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Politicians criticise ‘thugs’ after sectarian graffiti appears ahead of All-Ireland final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-sectarianism.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Roy Keane delighted after finally answering question about Ireland legend in quiz](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-ireland.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Roy Keane delighted after finally answering question about Ireland legend in quiz](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-ireland.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
MORE FROM Sports Joe
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Damien Duff ‘disgusted’ by Shels players after FAI Cup win](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/damien-duff-shelbourne.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Damien Duff ‘disgusted’ by Shels players after FAI Cup win](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/damien-duff-shelbourne.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![European Leagues to take legal action against FIFA over match calendar](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-23T113507.485.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![European Leagues to take legal action against FIFA over match calendar](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-23T113507.485.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![When are Irish athletes competing at the Olympics? Event details, times and more](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/ire.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![When are Irish athletes competing at the Olympics? Event details, times and more](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/ire.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 81](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Quiz-Feature-Image-17.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 81](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Quiz-Feature-Image-17.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Orange Order want to hold Armagh parade in Nationalist area during All-Ireland Final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-orangemen.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Orange Order want to hold Armagh parade in Nationalist area during All-Ireland Final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-orangemen.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
MORE FROM Sports Joe
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Quiz: Name every county to have won an All-Ireland football final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/gaa-final.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Quiz: Name every county to have won an All-Ireland football final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/gaa-final.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![‘He told me no.’ – GAA legend reveals he asked Roy Keane for a selfie at hurling final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-1.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![‘He told me no.’ – GAA legend reveals he asked Roy Keane for a selfie at hurling final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-1.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch ahead of opening ceremony](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/snoop-dogg.jpg?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch ahead of opening ceremony](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/snoop-dogg.jpg?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Damien Duff ‘disgusted’ by Shels players after FAI Cup win](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/damien-duff-shelbourne.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Damien Duff ‘disgusted’ by Shels players after FAI Cup win](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/damien-duff-shelbourne.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)