Following a presidential directive from Vladimir Putin, Chelsea’s Champions League match on Wednesday night will be shown live on Russian state television.
After winning the first leg 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, the Blues travel to Lille in their last 16 tie. The residents of west London are currently in limbo as a result of alleged links between Roman Abramovich and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has resulted in the billionaire being sanctioned.
UEFA’s broadcast contracts in Russia have not been stopped, despite the Premier League’s decision, allowing the Champions League to be broadcast in the country. Several sports organizations have taken steps to distance themselves from Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian invasion, but UEFA has not.
Russian teams have been barred from European events, and a lucrative sponsorship contract with Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy firm, has been canceled. Despite this, according to The Mail, Putin has issued orders that all three of UEFA’s club competitions, including the Champions League, will be broadcast on a Russia channel controlled by Gazprom Media.
Chelsea will try to join Liverpool and Manchester City in the competition’s last eight. The defending winners are Thomas Tuchel’s squad, who won the competition for the second time last summer in Porto.
Chelsea
Chelsea has a plethora of possible suitors as multiple buyers compete for the Premier League club. Nick Candy, a property entrepreneur and Blues supporter, is one of those considering a move, saying recently: “I have followed Chelsea since I was four years old.”
“My father was asked to join Chelsea as a player. Chelsea is one of my favorite people. I don’t care where it goes, even if it isn’t with me, as long as it is safe.” Raine Group, the US firm in charge of the auction, has extended the deadline for bids to March 18th, and plenty might be done before that Friday deadline.