Chelsea director Eugene Tenenbaum has been sanctioned by the UK government.

According to the government, Tenenbaum has previously described himself as one of Roman Abramovich's closest business associates. He has had his assets frozen as part of the sanctions.

The 58-year-old joins Abramovich, who was described by the UK government as a "pro-Kremlin oligarch", on the sanctions list following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Another associate of Abramovich, David Davidovich, has also been sanctioned by the government.

Tenenbaum, who was born in Kyiv in 1964 but moved to Canada at a young age, worked with Abramovich at Sibneft — the oil company he sold in 2006.

He has been a member of Chelsea's board since the Abramovich takeover in 2003.

A UK government statement read: "Corporate filings show that Tenenbaum took control of Evrington Investments Limited, an Abramovich-linked investment company, on 24 February immediately following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Tenenbaum, who is a director at Chelsea Football Club, is subject to an asset freeze.

"David Davidovich has been described by Forbes as 'Abramovich’s much lower profile right hand man', and took over Evrington Investments from Tenenbaum in March 2022. He is subject to an asset freeze and travel ban."

Chelsea were put up for sale by Abramovich following Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, which led to sanctions being imposed on the oligarch by the British government and European Union.

There are currently bids from Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, from Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, a consortium featuring Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, and another group fronted by former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Martin Broughton.

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