Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich ahs won an apology and a financial settlement from publisher HarperCollins after a long-running defamation case.
Catherine Belton’s book “Putin’s People” had a section on Abramovich where it claimed he bought Chelsea in 2003 it was on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The publishers were unable to show this to be true, and it was judged as defamatory towards Abramovich and damaging towards his reputation and that of the club.
The book has been amended in future editions, and the damages won by the billionaire in the case will be donated to charity.
The secretive Abramovich’s time in England has seen him accused – directly and indirectly – of negative associations with the Russian state, and this is not the first court case to result from unproven accusations. He recently returned to the UK for the first time since 2018, and has also taken up Portuguese citizenship this month.
Success breeds jealousy and envy and army of enemies across a wide spectrum. No one talks evil against Sheikh Mubarak Khaldoon, owner of Man City or Sheikh Khalefi, owner of PSG or any other clubs with foreign ownerships. The English football authority should instead be grateful to Mr Roman Abramovich for revolutionising the EPL to this unprecedented heights in Europe, rather than trying to destroy his reputation and business image as well. The English media to some extent, is very destructive and reckless with it’s reportage.
Well said over the years Chelsea FC has been bad mouthed by British press and Sport commentators out of pure jealousy. Rebuilding of Stamford Bridge Stadium has been derailed while other clubs in London were allow to rebuild without any hindrance from public or government. Injustice Bad Belle..
Very well said and to the point. I will also add with some reservations, that not only the media but a majority of officials do have and exercise decisions against his club for spite. It is unheard in our country, that supposed to be a free one in all aspects, to castigate a serious investor with a prolific low profile attitude, not because he is shy, but just because our Government carries out systematicaly attacks on Putin and all that happened to know him.