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Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich on Saturday turned over "stewardship and care" of Chelsea FC, the British soccer club he's owned since 2003, to Chelsea FC's charitable foundation. 

Why it matters: Abramovich is trying to distance his team from Russia's war on Ukraine, even though his brief statement didn't mention the conflict.

The move comes one day before Chelsea FC is set to play in the Carabao Cup final.

What Abramovich said: "I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values."

Russian oligarch hands over "stewardship" of Chelsea FC

Abramovich has owned the Premier League club since 2003.

Roman Abramovich at the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup. Photo: Michael Regan, FIFA via Getty Images

Soccer

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich on Saturday turned over &quot;stewardship and care&quot; of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chelsea FC, the British soccer club" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/chelsea-sale-bidding-war-98c08833-b28f-4fdd-aff6-183c224e40c8.html" data-vars-content-id="11d30950-8c90-412d-bf3b-a3a3c70706f5" data-vars-headline="Russian oligarch hands over &quot;stewardship&quot; of Chelsea FC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/chelsea-sale-bidding-war-98c08833-b28f-4fdd-aff6-183c224e40c8.html" target="_self">Chelsea FC, the British soccer club</a> he&#x27;s owned since 2003, to Chelsea FC&#x27;s charitable foundation. Why it matters: Abramovich is trying to distance his team from Russia&#x27;s war on Ukraine, even though his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="brief statement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/02/26/statement-from-club-owner-roman-abramovich?utm_source=tw&amp;utm_medium=orgsoc&amp;utm_campaign=none" data-vars-content-id="11d30950-8c90-412d-bf3b-a3a3c70706f5" data-vars-headline="Russian oligarch hands over &quot;stewardship&quot; of Chelsea FC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/02/26/statement-from-club-owner-roman-abramovich?utm_source=tw&amp;utm_medium=orgsoc&amp;utm_campaign=none" target="_blank">brief statement</a> didn&#x27;t mention the conflict.

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Russian oligarch hands over "stewardship" of Chelsea FC

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