Three has temporarily suspended its £40m a year sponsorship deal with Chelsea FC, following government sanctions against the club’s owner.
It comes as the UK government has imposed sanctions on Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich, freezing all his UK assets as the clampdown on Russian wealth continues due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier today the operator revealed it was reviewing its shirt sponsorship deal with the club, but has since confirmed it’s temporarily suspending sponsorship.
In a statement, Three UK said it has requested the West London club ‘temporarily suspend our sponsorship of the club, including the removal of our brand from shirts and around the stadium until further notice’.
This has meant that the proposed sale of the club has been put on hold, while only Chelsea season ticket holders can continue watching Chelsea’s home games.
A full statement from a Three spokesperson read: “In light of the government’s recently announced sanctions, we have requested Chelsea Football Club temporarily suspend our sponsorship of the club, including the removal of our brand from shirts and around the stadium until further notice.
“We recognise that this decision will impact the many Chelsea fans who follow their team passionately. However, we feel that given the circumstances, and the Government sanction that is in place, it is the right thing to do.
“As a mobile network, the best way we can support the people of Ukraine is to ensure refugees arriving in the UK from the conflict and customers currently in Ukraine can stay connected to the people who matter to them. Therefore, we are offering connectivity packages to all Ukrainians arriving in the UK, and those in Ukraine.”
Three has sponsored Chelsea since the beginning of the 2020/21 season.
