Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich has hit out at the UK government following his £2.3billion sale.(Image: Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has hit out at the UK government for actions that have "paralysed" his £2.3billion proceeds from the sale of the Premier League club.

In the wake of the Ukraine invasion, the Russian tycoon offloaded the Stamford Bridge outfit to a consortium led by American Todd Boehly, only for the funds to be locked in a frozen bank account by the British government.

Abramovich was alleged to have close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to sanctions, a claim he refutes.

Abramovich, the former governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug who built his wealth through oil and gas ventures, had committed that the "net proceeds" from the sale would benefit all war victims – a statement some interpreted as potentially including Russians – whilst successive British governments have insisted the funds should be directed exclusively towards Ukraine.

The government warned it would take Abramovich to court to release the money, though this has yet to materialise, and overdue...