Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has refuted claims that he has been asked to provide evidence a portion of his money was obtained legally.
The Daily Star report that the Russian businessman has not been in England since early last month due to delays with his visa being renewed.
Abramovich bought the West London club in 2003 from previous owner Ken Bates and immediately set about turning them into a European powerhouse.
Since then the club have won 17 trophies, including five Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League.
Reports suggested that the 51-year-old was asked to prove that £2m of investment into the UK was legal by the Home Office.
The claims have been denied by Abramovich, and his team are adamant that they were asked for ‘no additional requirements’ when applying for his latest visa.
The businessman/politician has a net worth of £9.3b and is a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The Russian government are believed to be unhappy about the delay, and have branded the UK ‘unfriendly and unscrupulous’.
The delays come at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries, with the UK blaming Russia for the poisoning of former MI6 double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on British soil. Russia strongly denies those claims.
