the times | Tuesday May 17 2022 59
Sport
Henry Winter
Chief Football Writer
company, Fordstam, to the Jersey-
registered Camberley International
Investments has to be repaid first — it
would be frozen but the money would
then go to the foundation. However,
this is being contested by sources close
to Abramovich, 55, and the sale process.
One has told The Times that the use of
a holding account was in fact Chelsea’s
suggestion, insisting that there is no
need to pay the money to Camberley.
“We find these claims absolutely
baffling,” the source said.
“Camberley is irrelevant. The money
does not need to be paid to them. It can
Government position is nonsense, say Abramovich camp
be held in a British government ac-
count for as long as it takes them to be
satisfied that the money is going to the
victims of the war.”
Another source close to Abramovich
described the government’s position as
“nonsense” and insisted that the terms
of the sanctions meant the money
would be frozen in a holding account, so
legally binding guarantees would not
be necessary.
Abramovich’s assets, including his
£200 million property portfolio, were
frozen by the UK government in March
in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions imposed on him also
prevent Chelsea, the club he bought in2003, from buying or selling players
and negotiating contracts.
The club were granted a licence by
the government to continue all “foot-
ball-related activities”, which included
fulfilling their fixtures, but that expires
on May 31, so resolving this issue is a
matter of some considerable urgency.
That date is also the deadline for the
club to be registered for next season’s
European competitions, while the Pre-
mier League is due to issue shares for
clubs to compete in next season’s com-
petition at a meeting on June 8.
Government insiders insist that what
Abramovich is demanding would
amount to a breach of the sanctionsimposed on the Chelsea owner. The
source said there are no legal guaran-
tees provided that would stop the
money ending up with the Russian-
born oligarch or his beneficiaries.
Chelsea had hoped to complete the
takeover by Boehly, the co-owner of the
LA Dodgers baseball team, and his con-
sortium this week. The government has
agreed to drop the idea that some of the
money should go towards providing
new football pitches in the UK, with the
entire amount instead going to help war
victims. Clearly, however, the process
has reached an impasse.
A government source said: “There’s
quite serious concern in governmentthat the deal may fall apart and that
Roman Abramovich is ultimately will-
ing to let Chelsea go under.”
Camberley International is regis-
tered in Jersey and the government
believes it is owned by a trust fund
registered in Cyprus which benefits
Abramovich’s children.
The ownership structure is “murky
and complicated”, the source said and
added: “The ridiculousness of this scen-
ario is that Chelsea are saying to us they
don’t know who owns Camberley
International and can’t talk to them.”
Chelsea and Abramovich’s repre-
sentatives have been approached for
comment.continued from back
Rangers players know the size of their club,
and the passion generated at Ibrox, but Seville
will simply be another reminder of how big they
are. “It’s worldwide,” Steven Gerrard told me
when he was managing Rangers. “That’s the
magnitude of this club. The support’s
phenomenal.” Gerrard would stop at a service
station down south and Rangers fans would
walk up, wishing him well.
History is being made, sombreros are being
bought and songs are being written, such as
Make Us Dream by Rangers-supporting duo
SAINT PHNX. It went to No 2 on iTunes and
was streaming busily on Spotify, such is the
interest from fans.
Such were the numbers flying out that
Rangers’ club shop at Glasgow airport will be
open 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. The
crazy expense and logistical difficulties
have not deterred fans. Some fly
direct. Some head to Faro, Portugal,
and then board buses or hire
minibuses and cars. Some go
Glasgow-Brussels-Seville, others
Manchester-Bologna-Malaga,
others even Liverpool-Geneva-
Seville; and some Newcastle-
Amsterdam-Malaga.
Rangers fans have swapped
information, shared rides, and
one even advised giving the
postcode to Sporting Lisbon’s José
Alvalade Stadium for those being
asked by the authorities for their
address in Portugal.
There is a dark side to this support,
of course, as those of us who were in
Manchester in 2008 witnessed. Let us hope they
heed the advice of club legends like Richard
Gough and Graeme Souness to “remember who
you represent”. Gough spoke of fans being
ambassadors for the club. Souness urged them
to avoid behaviour that would lead to “trashy
headlines” and damage the club. Nobody
wants a repeat.
Some Rangers fans felt the videos were
patronising, but the club had to send a message.
Uefa would expect it, the people of Seville hope
for it and the decent Rangers fans deserve it.
Players and supporters know their club are in
a good place, not just in the final, but in building
for the future. The sight of seven academy
players on the pitch at the end of Saturday’s
game against Hearts, including the 18-year-old
midfield prospect Alex Lowry, was of course
mainly down to Van Bronckhorst resting A-
listers but it also gave a glimpse of the promise
of the way ahead. Let’s hope Rangers can hold
on to their elite young talent, so the Billy
Gilmours of the future stay and play at Ibrox.
So this historic final means so much to
Rangers, and those who have worked so hard to
get there, who have come through adversity and
could now be 90 minutes from European glory
and a ticket to the Champions League group
stage. Rangers are up against difficult opponents
but they have all the motivation in the world. As
Lundstram tells himself, “Hard work beats talent
if talent doesn’t work hard.”even if Aaron Ramsey is playing his passes, but
they are a driven bunch. They are also stirred by
the sights and sounds greeting them in Seville.
Rangers’ ticket allocation for Seville’s elegant
40,000-capacity home is 9,500 with some
estimates predicting the same number of fans
again have acquired tickets. Tens of thousands
more are expected to travel,
watching the final from one of
the fan zones. There will be
countless more tuning in
from afar, whether back
home or among the
Rangers diaspora scattered
around the world.Tragedy, adversity
and desire driving
Rangers fairytale
W
hen the Rangers midfielder
John Lundstram was growing
up on Merseyside, he saw how
unstintingly his father grafted
as a joiner on a building site,
getting up at 5.30am. He saw how selflessly and
tirelessly his mother worked as a nurse. Their
industry instilled in Lundstram a value that has
always guided him, one he will doubtless repeat
to himself as he prepares for the Europa League
final in Seville: “Hard work beats talent if talent
doesn’t work hard”.
Not many of the Rangers players who step out
at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on
Wednesday evening have enjoyed a smooth ride
throughout their careers. Giovanni van
Bronckhorst and his players all have their own
driving forces, events that particularly spur
them on, whether setbacks, points to prove or
simply a competitive instinct that never dies.
Lundstram is probably a mix of all those. At
15, he went down to Aldershot and tried out for
the army because there were doubts about his
progress in the academy at Everton. He worked
hard, made the England Under-17 World Cup
squad in 2011 with Jordan Pickford and Raheem
Sterling, but still struggled to convince a
succession of Everton managers. So he went on
the road in five loan spells and played in League
Two, League One and the Sky Bet
Championship before leaving Everton and,
via Oxford United, reaching the Premier
League with Sheffield United. He worked hard.
He still does.
One reason why Lundstram turned down the
army opportunity was because he himself was
convinced he would make it one day. He’s
always had a self-belief. He even turned up at
Everton academy training in the kit of his
beloved Liverpool. His determination to make it
at Sheffield United led to him taking a personal
trainer to Dubai in the close season; then he
returned home and worked out in the 4 Corners
boxing gym in Liverpool. Hard work paid off.
Scott Arfield wears No 37 because it was the
number of his close friend Craig Gowans when
they were in the youth team at Falkirk. Gowans
was moving a metal pole that supported nets to
stop stray balls at the training ground on July 8,
- It caught a pylon and electrocuted him.
Arfield was ten feet away. He has never
forgotten the loss of such a promising young life,
of a team-mate who could have gone on in the
professional game or studied architecture at
Edinburgh University. The memory is one of
the reasons why Arfield works so hard to seize
every moment. The number is a daily
reminder. Arfield may not start but he will be
ready when called upon.
Motivation courses though this team. Ryan
Kent played only once for Jürgen Klopp at
Liverpool, in the FA Cup at Exeter City in 2016,
but built his career elsewhere and is now in a
European final. James Tavernier didn’t make it
at Leeds United or Newcastle United, and
played on loan in the Conference with
Gateshead, but his work ethic has taken him to
a European final. At 40, Allan McGregor has
lived a lot, played a lot and missed Rangers’
2008 Uefa Cup final loss with injury, but he’s
now starting a European final. Persistence.
And this is one of the reasons why Rangers
have a chance against Eintracht Frankfurt: their
determination, individual and collective. Always
respect a team on a mission. Visiting Rangers’
training ground last year, I had the privilege to
meet John Greig, the embodiment of all that is
great about this famous club. What was
immediately apparent was the deep reverence in
which Greig was held by players and staff.
So those players striding out in Seville
know they are stepping in mighty footsteps.
Next week brings the 50th anniversary of
Greig lifting the European Cup Winners’
Cup, having overcome Dynamo
Moscow 3-2 in the Nou Camp final.
Lundstram, Kent, Arfield, Tavernier,
McGregor and the rest can take
inspiration from the club’s history.
They will take motivation from
honouring the memory of Jimmy Bell, the
club’s much-loved kitman, who died two
weeks ago. They will take inspiration
from all the staff at the club who
stayed strong and worked hard to
keep Rangers going through the
turbulence of the past decade.
This is far from the most
talented side in Rangers’
illustrious 150-year history,6 It is sad and actually
ridiculous that we are
having a debate about an
individual’s sexuality in the 21st
century. As if it’s anyone’s
business. What should simply be
said about Jake Daniels, the
Blackpool forward who has come out
as gay, is that he deserves the support of
everyone and that he has timed the
announcement shrewdly. He’s waited until the
end of the season because, sadly, there will
still be intolerant individuals out there.ion do
walk up,w
History
bought an
Make Us D
SAINT PH
was stream
interest fro
Such we
Rangers’ cl
open 24 ho
cra
h
d
aa
ad
Th
of course, as th
Manchester in
heed the advic
Gough and Gr
you represent”.
ambassadors fo
to avoid behavi
headlines” and
wants a repeat.
Some Ranger
patronising, but
Uefa would expe
for it and thedec
Players and su
a good place, not
for the future. Th
players on the pit
game against Hea
midfield prospect
mainly down toV
listers but it also g
of the way ahead.
on to their elite yo
Gilmours of the fu
So this historicf
Rangers, and those
get there, who hav
could now be 90 m
and a ticket to the C
stage. Rangers areu
but they have all th
Lundstram tells him
iftl dmone of
the fan zones. There will be
countless more tuning in
from afar, whether back
home or among the
Rangers diaspora scattered
around the world.ay. He has never
ch a promising young life,
uld have gone on in the
udied architecture at
he memory is one of
works so hard to seize
mber is a daily
ot start but he will beough this team. Ryan
r Jürgen Klopp at
at Exeter City in 2016,
here and is now ina
vernier didn’t make it
astle United, and
ference with
thic has taken him to
llan McGregor has
d missed Rangers’
with injury, but he’s
nal. Persistence.
asons why Rangers
racht Frankfurt: their
nd collective. Always
n. Visiting Rangers’
had the privilege to
diment of all that is
b. What was
he deep reverence in
yers and staff.
ut in Seville
ighty footsteps.
nniversary of
up Winners’
mo
p final.
vernier,
ke
tory.
om
my Bell, the
o died two
iration
ho
to
e6 It is sad and actually
ridiculous that we are
having a debate about an
individual’s sexuality in the 21st
century. As if it’s anyone’s
business. What should simply be
said about Jake Daniels, the
Blackpool forward who has come out
as gay, is that he deserves the support of
everyone and that he has timed the
announcement shrewdly. He’s waited until the
end of the season because, sadly, there will
still be intolerant individuals out there.Lundstram has
played in all
four tiers of
football in the
English league