Russia's oligarchs and their sports investments
Some of Russia's richest people have used sports to spread their influence across the world. With the invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions hitting their country, oligarchs could lose their prized sports assets.
Roman Abramovich (Chelsea)
56-year-old Roman Abramovich was the first Russian billionaire to make a foray into the sports world. His 2003 purchase of Chelsea transformed the Premier League side and created the blueprint for the acquisition of sporting assets by wealthy individuals. Chelsea have since won five league titles and two Champions Leagues, but Abramovich's UK assets have now been frozen by the government.
Alisher Usmanov (Everton)
The Uzbekistan-born billionaire Alisher Usmanov was involved with Arsenal before acquiring a majority shareholding in Premier League rivals Everton. He has been hit by sanctions for his support and closeness to President Vladimir Putin that have meant he no longer controls the club. Usmanov's company also sponsored Everton's new stadium and held naming rights.
Maxim Demin (Bournemouth)
Apolitical Maxim Demin has avoided the sanctions that have hit his compatriots. He bankrolled Bournemouth's promotion to the Premier League in 2015 but they could not maintain their place in the top division and were relegated in 2020. Demin is now a British citizen.
Dmitry Rybolovlev (AS Monaco & Cercle Bruges)
The 56-year-old Dmitry Rybolovlev bought AS Monaco when the club was playing in the French Ligue 2. His investments helped the club return to the top division and helped establish the Monegasques as one of Europe's top addresses. Through AS Monaco, he also bought the Belgian Pro League side Cercle Bruges and returned the once-beleaguered side to prominence.
Valeriy Oyf (Vitesse Arnhem)
Ukraine-born Valeriy Oyf has been the owner of Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem since 2018. He took over the controlling shares from his friend, the Russian billionaire Alexander Chigrinsky, who had bought the club from Georgian business man Merab Zjordania. While he has not come under any sanctions, the club's unusual silence towards condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine has come under criticism.