Charity regulator looks into Abramovich's plan for Chelsea

LONDON (AP) — Roman Abramovich's attempt to shift the “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to the Premier League club's foundation has sparked the trustees to report the move to the British body overseeing charities.

The unexpected announcement from the Chelsea owner, which lacked full clarity, was issued on Saturday following calls for him to be targeted by British sanctions regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to sell the club.

The Charity Commission, which regulates the Chelsea Foundation, has received a “serious incident report” from its trustees amid concerns about how Abramovich's plan can be enacted.

The foundation's chairman is Bruce Buck, who has also chaired Chelsea for most of the 19 years the Russian oligarch has owned the west London club. Beyond women's team manager Emma Hayes and director of finance Paul Ramos, the trustees with more separation from the club are British Olympic Association chairman Hugh Robertson, lawyer John Devine and anti-discrimination leader Piara Powar, the executive director of the FARE network.

The Charity Commission is seeking further information from them about the running of the club and the foundation.

“We have contacted the charity seeking information," the commission said, “and, in line with our guidance, the charity has also made a report to the commission.”

Chris Bryant, a legislator in Britain's opposition Labour Party, has been urging Abramovich to sell Chelsea over the last week. Bryant accused Abramovich in the House of Commons last week of having “links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices."

In a fresh intervention on Abramovich on Tuesday, Bryant told Parliament: "I think he’s terrified of being sanctioned, which is why he’s already going to sell his home tomorrow,...