Russian billionaire and former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich lost his third legal challenge against European Union sanctions on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
According to a post on X by journalist Rikard Jozwiak, the EU General Court once again rejected Abramovich’s attempt to have his name removed from the bloc’s sanctions list.
Jozwiak described the ruling as a legal “hattrick!” for Abramovich, referring to three unsuccessful attempts to overturn the restrictions.
The latest proceedings, registered as Case T-358/25, concerned an EU Council decision extending sanctions against Abramovich over Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Abramovich asked the court to annul the decision and sought compensation for what he described as non-material damage caused by his continued inclusion on the sanctions list.
The court dismissed his case, leaving the asset freeze and restrictions on his entry into EU territory in place.
Three unsuccessful sanctions challenges
The EU first sanctioned Abramovich in March 2022, weeks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Brussels cited his role as a major shareholder in the Russian steel group Evraz, which the EU described as one of Russia’s largest taxpayers, as well as his alleged close ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich filed his first challenge against the restrictions in 2022. In December 2023, the General Court rejected the case and refused his request for compensation, finding that the EU Council had not made an error in assessing his role in Evraz.
A second challenge against the renewal of the sanctions was rejected in September 2025. Wednesday’s ruling marked his third defeat before the EU court.
Decisions by the General Court, the EU’s second-highest judicial body, may be appealed to the Court of Justice of the EU on points of law.
Frozen Chelsea sale proceeds
Abramovich owned Chelsea for nearly 19 years before selling the English football club in May 2022 after the UK imposed sanctions against him.
The club was sold for £2.5 billion ($2.9 billion), but the proceeds remain frozen in a British bank account amid a dispute over how the money should be used.
The UK government has insisted that the entire sum must support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. However, Abramovich has sought permission to distribute the funds among victims of the war more broadly, potentially including people outside Ukrainian-controlled territory.
British authorities have threatened legal action to release the money, while Abramovich’s lawyers have said he would fight any attempt to seize it.
Abramovich has repeatedly denied having influence over the Kremlin or benefiting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.