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Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has lost another legal challenge against EU sanctions imposed over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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The General Court of the European Union upheld his inclusion on the sanctions list.
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Judges cited his economic interests and links to Russian companies considered important sources of revenue for the Russian state.
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The ruling represents another setback for Abramovich, who has repeatedly challenged the restrictions since 2022.
September 09, (THEWILL) — Former Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, has suffered another legal setback after the General Court of the European Union rejected his latest attempt to overturn sanctions imposed on him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The court dismissed Abramovich’s action on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, leaving the restrictive measures against the Russian billionaire in place.
The decision represents another defeat in Abramovich’s prolonged legal battle against the EU, with the court maintaining that there were sufficient grounds for keeping him on the bloc’s sanctions list.
EU Court Rejects Abramovich’s Case
Abramovich was first sanctioned by the European Union in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The measures imposed an asset freeze and travel restrictions across the EU, significantly limiting Abramovich’s ability to access assets and move freely within the bloc.
In his latest legal challenge, Abramovich disputed the grounds for his inclusion on the sanctions list.
The General Court, however, rejected his arguments and concluded that the restrictive measures remained justified.
The judges focused on Abramovich’s economic position and his connections to major Russian industrial interests, rather than simply his status as a prominent public figure.
Why the Court Maintained the Sanctions
A key issue in Abramovich’s case has been his relationship with Russian metals and mining interests.
The EU has previously argued that Abramovich’s position and financial interests in major Russian companies meant he benefited from and was connected to sectors generating significant revenue for the Russian state.
The court has therefore treated his economic links as an important factor in determining whether the sanctions should remain in place.
The latest judgment maintains that position and confirms that Abramovich has not succeeded in providing grounds sufficient to overturn the measures.
Another Blow After Previous Court Defeat
Wednesday’s decision adds to Abramovich’s unsuccessful attempts to remove his name from the EU sanctions list.
The General Court previously rejected his challenge in December 2023, ruling that the EU had sufficient evidence to justify his inclusion.
That judgment examined, among other things, Abramovich’s position as a major shareholder in Evraz, the Russian steel and mining group.
The court found that the company’s activities represented a significant source of revenue for the Russian government, strengthening the EU’s case for maintaining sanctions against Abramovich. His latest challenge has now met the same fate.
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Abramovich’s Chelsea Era Is Over
The ruling also serves as another reminder of the extraordinary consequences Russia’s war in Ukraine had for Abramovich’s football empire.
Abramovich owned Chelsea for almost 20 years, transforming the club into one of European football’s most successful sides during his tenure.
Under his ownership, Chelsea won multiple Premier League titles, Champions League trophies and domestic and European honours.
But his time at Stamford Bridge came to an abrupt end in 2022 after the British government sanctioned him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea were subsequently sold to a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, bringing Abramovich’s long association with the Premier League club to a close.
Legal Battle Continues
Although Abramovich is no longer involved in Chelsea’s ownership, his battle against the sanctions remains unresolved.
The latest General Court ruling keeps the EU restrictions in place, meaning the asset freeze and travel restrictions continue to apply within the bloc.
Abramovich can still seek an appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union, although such an appeal would be limited to points of law rather than providing a fresh examination of the underlying facts.
For now, however, the result is another setback for the former Chelsea owner.
After years of legal challenges, Abramovich remains under EU sanctions — and Wednesday’s ruling has made his attempt to escape them considerably harder.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
