Chelsea owner Boehly linked to company sanctioned by Ukraine for ‘financing Russian schemes’ along with Blues sponsor
CHELSEA are re-assessing their sponsorship deal with betting firm Parimatch Tech who are set to be sanctioned by Ukraine.
Parimatch and Sportradar AG, which Blues owner Todd Boehly has shares in, will be banned from any economic or financial activity in Ukraine for the next 50 years by president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Todd Boehly owns shares in Ukraine sanctioned betting company ParimatchRex
Boehly forked out £120million on shares 18 months ago and Parimatch have a three-year sponsorship deal with Chelsea which sees their logo displayed on LED systems around Stamford Bridge.
The firms are among 280 companies on a sanctions list published last Friday.
Parimatch and Sportradar AG are being targeted for continuing to conduct business in Russia a year after its invasion of Ukraine, which Zelensky claims has assisted Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Zelensky said: “There are more than 280 companies and 120 people who, through gambling business schemes, worked against Ukraine, withdrew funds from our state and financed various Russian schemes.
“It took some time to prepare the decision. It has been thoroughly worked out and closes schemes worth tens of billions.”
Chelsea are now reviewing their contract with Parimatch, who also have commercial deals with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Leicester.
Sources close to Boehly told Mail Online his stake in Sportradar is not significant.
Although the American billionaire did consider a £10billion buyout of the firm through acquisition company, Horizon Acquisition, in 2021.
Uefa could also reconsider their position with Sportsradar, who are the official betting partner for the Champions League, Europa League and 2024 European Championship.
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Former owner Roman Abramovic put Chelsea up for sale in the outbreak of Russia’s invasion last year.
The Russian was sanctioned by the UK government and the net proceeds of his sale of the Blues went to helping the Ukrainian victims of the war.
