The flurry of activity in Chelsea share dealing in the seven days leading up to the announcement, which led to a 50 percent increase in the club’s equity value, has left question marks over the club’s motives in securing the deal.
Meanwhile, the UK government is to seek the introduction of a self-regulatory regime in soccer to ensure that only “fit and proper persons” are able to take control of English clubs.
The Chelsea takeover has raised fears over the probity and business background of Abramovich, but neither the English Football Association nor the Football League currently has the power to prevent club buyouts.
Quoted in The Guardian newspaper, a source close to Tessa Jowell, minister for media, culture and sport, said she hoped soccer would bring in a “fit and proper persons” test in the near future. “We have high hopes we will get some movement on this.”
English Premier League soccer club Chelsea may face an official investigation by the Financial Services Authority after the takeover of the club by Russian oil magnet Roman Abramovich.
