How the UK finally turned on Roman Abramovich

When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003, he transformed the club's fortunes and ushered in a new era of billionaire owners in the Premier League. But as David Conn explains, the issues that led to sanctions being imposed on him last week by the government have been in plain view for years

For nearly two decades, Roman Abramovich has sat at the top table of English football. His purchase of Chelsea in 2003 transformed the club from perennial underachievers to a major force in European football that has since won every major tournament the continent offers. But right from day one, as the Guardian's investigative reporter David Conn tells Nosheen Iqbal, there have been questions about the origins of his wealth - as well as his closeness to the Kremlin.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich was last week placed on a list of individuals to have sanctions imposed upon them by the UK government, meaning that all his assets in Britain were frozen - including Chelsea FC. With the club now in crisis and up for sale, Conn looks back on what the Abramovich era has meant for English football, and why the authorities are only taking action now.