EPL: Premier League describe Abramovich's era at Chelsea as 'difficult'

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has claimed it would be 'difficult' to say the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea was good for the English Premier League brand.

Abramovich was forced to sell the club to a group led by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly.

After the Russian arrived as owner of Chelsea in 2003, the Blues won five Premier League titles and two Champions League titles.

Chelsea have also been able to sign some of the best players in the world thanks to the financial transformation overseen by the billionaire.

But after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the British government sanctioned Abramovich and froze his assets, including Chelsea, over his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's hard to say now, looking back, that everything went well, given what's happened over the past six and a half months," Masters told a conference release at the Premier League headquarters in London.< /p>

"I think if you ask the Chelsea fans, they will give you a different answer.

“I think the situation we found ourselves with gave the sport some challenges that we have to face. Ultimately, there was no test of the owners and administrators when Abramovich took possession from Chelsea, so I guess the answer to the question is, had this been in place, what would have happened and what safeguards do we need to build in for the future?

"[There is] a rolling test, yes. Better safe than sorry, right? There was no then, there is now, it's gonna change and part of that probably going to be strengthening the annual test."