Chelsea paid whopping agent fees just days before Roman Abramovich was sanctioned

dailystar.co.uk:

Chelsea handed out huge fees to agents right before Roman Abramovich was sanctioned on March 10.Data from February 2021 via the FA show that they paid £35million to intermediaries last year, the highest of any Premier League club.And fees this year were paid just days before Abramovich had his assets in the UK frozen over links to Russia president Vladimir Putin.Agents paid will have included the likes of Mino Raiola, who represents summer signing Romelu Lukaku.According to The Athletic, Chelsea usually make commission payments biannually, with intermediaries ordinarily paid in September and February.The most recent payment date would have fallen shortly before the sanction saga began, which has caused huge financial worry for Chelsea, the team, the staff, and the fans.Additionally, some 1,000 jobs are on the line owing to the sanctions currently put on the club by the UK government.

Technical director Petr Cech even admitted he “didn’t have the answers” about whether the side would be able to pay staff.The club are operating but only under a special licence from the government that makes them functional as a sports team rather than as an enterprise.What do you think the future holds for Chelsea?

Let us know in the comments section.The club’s oligarch owner is looking to sell the club amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia.