The UK government is threatening legal action against former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over the frozen £2.5 billion proceeds from his sale of the football club. Abramovich had previously stated his intention to donate the funds to victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He was sanctioned by the UK in 2022 as part of a broader crackdown on Russian oligarchs following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This resulted in the swift sale of the Premier League club and the freezing of the sale proceeds. The UK now insists the money must be used exclusively in Ukraine, aligning with a broader European effort to make Russia bear the costs of the war’s devastation. However, Abramovich is pushing for more flexibility, seeking to direct the funds to all victims of the conflict, not just those in Ukraine. In a joint statement, British finance minister, Rachel Reeves and foreign minister, David Lammy said on Tuesday: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion. “We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. They added that the door for negotiations would remain open, but that they were “fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”