Three have sponsored Chelsea since 2020.
Chelsea’s main sponsor Three has suspended its £40m deal with the club following sanctions imposed on club owner Roman Abramovich by the UK government.
The telecommunications company have been Chelsea’s official shirt partner since January 2020, with their logo appearing on the front of all Chelsea shirts – including the women’s team and academy sides – from the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
According to Matt Lawton of The Times, "There’s a kit man in Norwich now heading down to Sports Direct to buy 20 plain blue football tops."
This has been a terrible day for Chelsea… pic.twitter.com/xxWKkpOeaK
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 10, 2022
It was reported earlier that their partnership was under review. But after Abramovich’s assets were frozen as part of sanctions imposed due to his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the company has terminated its sponsorship with immediate effect.
A spokesperson for Three said: “We recognise that this decision will impact the many Chelsea fans who follow their team passionately. However, we feel that given the circumstances, and the Government sanction that is in place, it is the right thing to do.”
Chelsea shirt sponsor – mobile phone firm Three – on why it has cut ties with the club by suspending the deal after Abramovich was placed under UK sanctions over Russia’s war on Ukraine pic.twitter.com/n246CbKXAw
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) March 10, 2022
Three have requested that their logo be removed from Chelsea shirts immediately.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will play in plain jerseys for their fixture vs Norwich tonight (Thursday 10th March). According to Matt Lawton of The Times, a Chelsea kit man has been trying to source 20 plain blue football tops.
Telecommunications company Three has asked Chelsea to remove their branding from their shirts immediately, having now suspended their sponsorship deal with the club. There’s a kit man in Norwich now heading down to Sports Direct to buy 20 plain blue football tops.
— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) March 10, 2022
