Ever since Russia president Vladimir Putin ordered mass troops into Ukraine, speculation has persisted regarding the potential ramifications for Chelsea, more specifically owner Roman Abramovich.
Such has been the speed of developments that Abramovich wasted little time in putting the Premier League giants up for sale, a move which has inevitably led to widespread interest with the Russian billionaire eager to push through a quick sale.
However, that will not longer happen. On Thursday morning, the British government announced that it was sanctioning seven Russian oligarchs who they believe have links to Putin, preventing Abramovich from cashing in on the West London club and Chelsea from functioning normally on a day-to-day basis.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at what it actually means for Chelsea, and what the consequences are in the short and long term.
CAN CHELSEA STILL PLAY MATCHES?
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Supporters will be relieved to see that Chelsea are still able to participate in official matches, but this was by no means a foregone conclusion.
As part of its statement, the British government said: "To ensure the club can continue to compete and operate, we are issuing a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches."
That translates into Chelsea making little to no further revenue when they play at Stamford Bridge. Away fans, who have not already purchased their tickets, will not be able to attend, and Chelsea's club shop will be closed. However, food and drink will still be available.
One further point is that Chelsea are limited to what they can spend on specific fixtures. A limit of £500,000 has been imposed for home matches, and just £20,000 on away games.
CAN CHELSEA BUY AND SELL PLAYERS?
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It was not so long ago that Chelsea were handed a transfer ban, punishment which was eventually viewed as a blessing in disguise as they took the opportunity to promote several of their top academy prospects.
However, the current restrictions will be of extreme hindrance if they are extended into the summer transfer window. As of now, being prevented from buying and selling players does not technically affect Chelsea, but they will be left with a bloated squad on high wages if they do not have the power to rectify the situation.
In short, it has the potential to financially drain both Abramovich and the club, and this is what will most concern their supporters.
WHAT ABOUT OUT-OF-CONTRACT PLAYERS?
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It has already been widely reported that Andreas Christensen is on his way to Barcelona on a free transfer, so Thursday's developments do not necessarily hamper Chelsea with regards to the Danish defender.
However, it significantly increases the chances of Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger moving on to pastures new in the summer. Chelsea are unable to offer either player a new contract, nor will Abramovich particularly want to nor can he afford to.
While there is the potential of things changing all the time, it appears that club legend Azpilicueta and key defender Rudiger will have no option but to end their Chelsea careers.
HOW CAN CHELSEA OPERATE?
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Chelsea have only been given permission to continue operating as a business and a football club because of its status as a significant cultural asset.
In the short term, that will come as a relief to all involved, but it also highlights that in many other circumstances, Chelsea would be well on the road to going out of business.
Nevertheless, that will remain a possibility while their cash flow has been all but stopped. Chelsea should have money in the bank which they can use, such as prize money generated from their performances in the Champions League and Club World Cup, but those funds will not go very far if the situation drags on.
WHERE DO CHELSEA AND ABRAMOVICH GO FROM HERE?
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When Abramovich announced his intention to sell Chelsea eight days ago, it represented a seismic move in the Premier League. Despite its inevitability, it almost did not feel real, and it is exactly the same regarding Abramovich's subsequent sanctioning.
All things considered, no-one knows how this situation will develop from here. A report from The Telegraph suggests that Abramovich can still sell Chelsea, providing that he is prepared to hand the process over to the British government, but whether he decides to go down that route will depend on his desperation to wash his hands with Great Britain.
If that does not materialise, a scenario could arise where Chelsea must sell their assets to remain in existence and a ban extended on signing new players. That could effectively remove the Blues from the top table in the Premier League, but some fans will perceive that to be the best-case outcome.
Chelsea have their eyes on retaining their Champions League crown, remaining in the top four of England's top flight and winning the FA Cup over the next two-and-a-half months. However, the pendulum has shifted with such speed that everyone associated with Chelsea will be grateful to still have a club ahead of 2022-23.
Darren Plant
