Chelsea legend John Terry slammed by MP in House of Commons for Roman Abramovich message
Labour MP Chris Bryant has laid into Chelsea legend John Terry after the former defender posted a tribute to Roman Abramovich, who recently announced he would be selling the club
Labour MP Chris Bryant has scorned John Terry after the Chelsea legend dedicated a message to Roman Abramovich.
Bryant blasted Terry for his "appalling" tribute to the club’s owner, who recently put the club on sale.
Abramovich confirmed on Wednesday that the Premier League club are up for sale in an emotional statement, with the oligarch setting the price at around £3billion.
It comes as the billionaire - who bought Chelsea in 2003 for £140million - faces calls from Labour MPs to have his assets seized by the UK Government as they look to impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs who are alleged to be affiliated with Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich has always rejected accusations of ties to Putin and the Kremlin.
Nevertheless, Terry paid tribute to the owner online, posting a picture of them together with a Premier League trophy, one of 19 major trophies won in the Abramovich era.
The 41-year-old wrote alongside it: “The best.”
But the mark of respect by Terry has come under heavy fire by Byrant, who pointed to the war ongoing in Ukraine.
Bryant wrote on Twitter: “This is appalling.
“I think @JohnTerry26 you should take this down ASAP. The people of Ukraine are being bombed, shelled and murdered while you celebrate Abramovich.”
Terry has not responded to request for comment.
Bryant has been a staunch opponent of oligarchs in the country and has frequently called on Prime Minster Boris Johnson to impose heavy sanctions.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Bryant asked why Abramovich has not had his assets seized yet.
“Some of us are anxious about why we’re not going further on the sanctioning of individuals," he said.
“It’s a mystery to me why Roman Abramovich has not yet been sanctioned. The Government itself knows he’s been engaged in illicit activity and he’s a person of concern to the Government, which is why they’ve not been encouraging him to come to the UK.
“‘I don’t know why Alisher Usmanov has not yet been sanctioned. He’s been sanctioned by the EU but not by us. He owns Sutton Place, I don’t know why we don’t seize that asset.
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“I don’t know why the UK has not yet seized a single yacht, or a flat, or a property of any kind, whilst over countries in Europe are able to do that.
“Finally, I wonder whether she [Conservative MP Nadine Dorries] would condemn John Terry today. I don’t know whether she’s seen this, but he has posted today a photo of himself with Roman Abramovich, who is one of Putin’s cronies, what will the people of Ukraine think of the former England football captain?’
Nadine Dorrie Dorries, The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, concurred with the response: “I agree with much of what he [Bryant] says.
“He knows that I’m limited in what I’m able to do in my department, I cannot mention names, and I hope that we will see the Foreign Office come forward with the sanctions that he’s looking for."