Chelsea slammed as Russia President Vladimir Putin intervenes in Lille Champions League clash
Russia President Vladimir Putin intervenes in the Lille Champions League clash to be aired on Russian state Tv.
Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Lille will be available to watch in Russia.
Putin’s intervention has ensured Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Lille will be available to watch on TV within the country.
Russia President Vladimir Putin issued a presidential decree which meant Match TV could be set up, and the channel holds the rights to the Champions League within Russia.
And as UEFA has not suspended broadcast contracts in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, all of this week’s European ties will continue to be aired on the channel as expected.
That means football fans in Russia will be able to tune in when Thomas Tuchel’s side take on Lille in the second leg of their last-16 tie after winning 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
It comes after the Stamford Bridge outfit were plunged into a state of chaos after the UK government imposed sanctions on the club’s owner Roman Abramovich.
The sanctions were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as Abramovich’s ties to the Russian president came under the spotlight.
But the club have been accused of failing to “understand the seriousness of the situation they are in” after requesting their FA Cup match against Middlesbrough is played behind closed doors.
The Blues had hoped to play the fixture without fans due to their inability to sell tickets because of the sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich.
But their request to do so was met with criticism from Middlesbrough, who labeled the request “bizarre and without any merit”.
And Politico reports being told by a senior government source the statement “shows they do not seem to understand the seriousness of the situation they are in”.
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