Roman Abramovich Thread

[Vesper 29,018]

Roman Abramovich: Rabbi investigated over Portuguese citizenship

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60724509

A rabbi who helped Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich obtain his Portuguese citizenship has been told he cannot leave Portugal and must present himself to authorities when required.

Daniel Litvak was detained on Thursday as part of an investigation into how citizenship had been granted.

The naturalisation process of several Jewish people is being investigated.

On Friday, Mr Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Abramovich, 55, is the owner of Chelsea FC and he is one of seven oligarchs to be hit with fresh sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans.

Mr Abramovich was granted Portuguese citizenship in April 2021 under a law that offered naturalisation to descendants of Sephardic Jews, who were expelled from the Iberian peninsula more than 400 years ago during the Inquisition.

Applicants for Portuguese citizenship via this route are assessed by experts at one of Portugal's Jewish communities in either Lisbon or Porto. Mr Litvak is the rabbi for the community in Porto (northern Portugal) and was responsible for assessing Mr Abramovich's application.

Mr Litvak was detained by authorities as he was preparing to travel to Israel. He was asked to hand over his passport and will have to periodically present himself to authorities.

Portugal's Judicial Police and public prosecutor said on Friday that there were suspicions of money laundering, corruption, fraud and falsification of documents in the process of of granting citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews.

Porto's Jewish community has denied any wrongdoing and said it was the target of a smear campaign. They added that Mr Litvak oversaw the department that grants certification of an individual's Sephardic Jewish heritage and the criteria used for granting someone Portuguese nationality had "been accepted by successive governments".

 

[OhForAGreavsie 5,898]

30 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Roman Abramovich: Rabbi investigated over Portuguese citizenship

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60724509

A rabbi who helped Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich obtain his Portuguese citizenship has been told he cannot leave Portugal and must present himself to authorities when required.

Daniel Litvak was detained on Thursday as part of an investigation into how citizenship had been granted.

The naturalisation process of several Jewish people is being investigated.

On Friday, Mr Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Abramovich, 55, is the owner of Chelsea FC and he is one of seven oligarchs to be hit with fresh sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans.

Mr Abramovich was granted Portuguese citizenship in April 2021 under a law that offered naturalisation to descendants of Sephardic Jews, who were expelled from the Iberian peninsula more than 400 years ago during the Inquisition.

Applicants for Portuguese citizenship via this route are assessed by experts at one of Portugal's Jewish communities in either Lisbon or Porto. Mr Litvak is the rabbi for the community in Porto (northern Portugal) and was responsible for assessing Mr Abramovich's application.

Mr Litvak was detained by authorities as he was preparing to travel to Israel. He was asked to hand over his passport and will have to periodically present himself to authorities.

Portugal's Judicial Police and public prosecutor said on Friday that there were suspicions of money laundering, corruption, fraud and falsification of documents in the process of of granting citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews.

Porto's Jewish community has denied any wrongdoing and said it was the target of a smear campaign. They added that Mr Litvak oversaw the department that grants certification of an individual's Sephardic Jewish heritage and the criteria used for granting someone Portuguese nationality had "been accepted by successive governments".

 

Presumably there will be an investigation and the findings will be made public then we can decide what to make of this. Assuming of course that investigation is not itself acqused of having been corrupted. 

[Fulham Broadway 16,921]

9 hours ago, Tomo said:

I hope not, as a fan base we're far too emotionally driven as we saw with both Lampard and Jose's sackings.

If the fans had a serious say from 2003 onwards Ranieri would still be here.

Ours would not be a final say but a contributory voice. Without fan involvement we would not have the CPO and SB would be a block of flats

[Superblue 6,372]

9 hours ago, Tomo said:

I hope not, as a fan base we're far too emotionally driven as we saw with both Lampard and Jose's sackings.

If the fans had a serious say from 2003 onwards Ranieri would still be here.

I think it would be more based on off-pitch matters and decision making as has been mentioned in these independent reviews following the Super League debacle.

The whole point I believe is to create greater transparency within board rooms, but I wouldn't expect them to have influence over on-pitch matters such as transfers and managerial appointments or dismissals.

[Pizy 18,417]

I know this kind of seismic deal take a while to be settled but it feels from the outside like things have ground to a halt. We really need this cloud over everyone at the club lifted ASAP. I was optimistic after Roman first announced he was selling when reporters said it could happen within days, but now it seems there’s no end in sight.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,898]

10 hours ago, Tomo said:

If the fans had a serious say from 2003 onwards Ranieri would still be here.

Not this fan. 😒

[OhForAGreavsie 5,898]

6 hours ago, Vesper said:

fuck Martin Samuel

Thank you for this long, detailed and entirely accurate summary of the situation. 🙂

When I've heard ex footballers parroting nonsense on this subject I've been able to calm myself down by remembering that they are idiots. What is Samuel's excuse?

[Superblue 6,372]

23 minutes ago, Pizy said:

I know this kind of seismic deal take a while to be settled but it feels from the outside like things have ground to a halt. We really need this cloud over everyone at the club lifted ASAP. I was optimistic after Roman first announced he was selling when reporters said it could happen within days, but now it seems there’s no end in sight.

It's already been confirmed by numerous sources (and Nick Candy also confirmed on TV before the game yesterday) that the deadline for final bids is this Friday so I would expect there to be some developments fairly soon after this, probably next week and during the international break which will hopefully also give us a bit of time to get things in order. 

Hopefully once a sale is confirmed going through, there may also be more easing of these ridiculous sanctions currently in place on the club too, so at least if it takes a few weeks we will hopefully still be in a position to carry on as normal as possible.

[cosmicway 1,333]

7 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

I'd be strongly against that idea. 18 would be my baseline minimum but I'd vote for 20 before I'd vote for 16.

Why ? So many deadwood matches.
My idea is to make the CL, Europa stage of 16 into a league.
But again the European conference cup is silly. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,318]

Saudi Media Group lodge £2.7bn offer 

[Fernando 6,484]

Crazy, I wonder if UK will allow us to get bought by another Saudi organization. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,318]

6 minutes ago, Fernando said:

Crazy, I wonder if UK will allow us to get bought by another Saudi organization. 

Chelsea have discouraged "politically sensitive" parties from bidding for the club but Saudi Media does not believe it falls into that category.

Unlike Newcastle United – who are now owned by the Saudi Arabian state via the Public Investment Fund – Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, Saudi Media is an entirely private entity with no direct ties to a particular ruler or government.

 

https://www.goal.com/en-my/news/saudi-media-Chelsea-takeover-bid-keep-rudiger-rebuild/blt3867c8c4c58996a9

[Pizy 18,417]

Just for the chaos and meltdowns by journalists, pundits, and opposition supporters I PRAY that these Saudi’s win the bid. 

The likes of Miguel Delaney and other moral crusaders may have a stroke if this happens.

[Superblue 6,372]

The argument would be however if they can prove there is no direct ties and links to their own Government, what really should the problem be?

It becomes then complete stereotyping over race and culture at that point. Why should they not be considered in the same way as an American bid?

[Fulham Broadway 16,921]

Probably happen with the Saudis -like buying a perfectly serviced, running Rolls Royce. And plenty of transfer cash.

When the oil runs out or is too expensive, these Saudi owned clubs  will be seized back, like the oligarchs stuff,  on the pretext of 'human rights violations'. Probably.

[NikkiCFC 8,048]

12 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

When the oil runs out or is too expensive, these Saudi owned clubs  will be seized back, like the oligarchs stuff,  on the pretext of 'human rights violations'. Probably.

They are fine as long as they buy guns from US.

 

On May 20, 2017, U.S. President Trump and Saudi Arabia's Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signed a series of letters of intent for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to purchase arms from the United States totaling US$110 billion immediately, and $350 billion over 10 years.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,517]

 

[Superblue 6,372]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60738126

This BBC report suggests a sale could happen by the end of this month.