Russia’s influence throughout Europe is under the microscope due to the political events unfolding in Ukraine. But there are fewer places where that influence has been more keenly felt since the turn of the century than football.

Across the continent, there are a handful of professional clubs with full Russian ownership or with majority shareholders.

Planet Sport takes a look at some of the best-known examples and also brings you a few clubs you might not have known about.

Roman Abramovich – Chelsea

Abramovich has a 100% stake in the West London side but is now rarely seen at Stamford Bridge.

The 55-year-old who bought the Blues in June 2003, and last estimated in 2021, was reported by Forbes to have a net worth of $14.50 billion.

Under his leadership, Chelsea enjoyed the most successful spell in their history, winning five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two Champions League trophies, three League Cups and two Europa League trophies.

There have already been calls for action against Abramovich in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. Labor MP Chris Bryant wants Abramovich to no longer own Chelsea.

Abramovich insists he has no direct connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin

Maxim Demin – Bournemouth

Demin has owned Bournemouth wholly since 2019. He originally bought 50% of the Cherries in 2011, which increased to 100% two years later. He then sold 25% to an investment company in 2015, before regaining full control in 2019.

It was estimated in 2020 that he had a net worth of £900million, and the highlight of his ownership for Bournemouth was promotion from the Premier League in 2015.

Dmitry Rybolovlev – AS Monaco

Ligue 1 has one club with Russian involvement, although the club in question is not actually based in France. AS Monaco is two-thirds owned by oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, via a trust in the name of his daughter Ekaterina.

Rybolovlev, who in 2021 had a net worth of $6.7 billion, bought his stake in the club in December 2011, and in the decade since, the club have been crowned champions of France after rising from the second division.

They have also finished second in Ligue 1 twice, in 2014 and 2018, in addition to being vice-champions of the Coupe de France in 2021 and the Trophée des Champions in 2017 and 2018.

Dmitry Rybolovlev – Cercle Brugge

Through Monaco, Rybolovlev also owns Belgian side Cercle Brugge.

The financial setbacks of Cercle, relegated to second place in Belgium, led in 2015 to seek an investor, paving the way for a complete takeover by Monaco. Rybolovlev, as the majority shareholder of the parent club, became the individual owner of Cercle.

Valeriy Oyf – Speed ​​Arnhem

Vitesse Arnhem, who finished fourth in the Eredivisie in 2020/21, is majority-owned by Oyf, although little information about his wealth is freely available.

While Russian investment has led to success for Monaco and Chelsea, it has been harder to come by for Vitesse, and Oyf has been embroiled in several controversies where he has clashed with members of the club’s technical staff.

No Russian ownership of clubs in Spain, Germany, Italy and Portugal

The other major leagues in Western Europe are, at present, outside the sphere of Russian ownership.

The 50+1 rule of the German Bundesliga prohibits outside investment from taking a majority stake in a club, which means that no Russian individual can become the absolute owner of a club in Germany.

When it comes to Spain, Italy and Portugal, there are less stringent restrictions on outside investors, so there’s little to stop a wealthy Russian from taking over a club.

The exceptions would be in the cases of Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao, which are organized as registered associations, not limited liability companies, and it is not possible to buy shares, members only.

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