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Bloomberg
Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who owns London’s Chelsea Football Club, is unable to travel to the UK at the moment because of delays renewing his visa, according to people familiar with the situation.
Abramovich, who didn’t watch his team win the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium, hasn’t been denied a visa, but renewal is taking longer than usual, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. Britain’s Home Office declined to comment.
Although the reason for the delay isn’t clear, the tycoon’s visa trouble comes at a tense time in UK-Russian relations, damaged by British accusations that Moscow’s security services were complicit in the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer, Sergei Skripal. The government has come under pressure to look at the influence of Russian money and business figures in the British economy.
After the Skripal poisoning, which saw Britain expel 23 diplomats, the government said it was reviewing the visas of 700 wealthy Russians who entered the country on investor visas.
Abramovich, who owes his $14 billion fortune to investments in Russian metals and oil industries, bought Chelsea in 2003 for $188 million and is among the most prominent Russian tycoons in British life.