Thomas
Tuchel said Chelsea fans picked the wrong time to show their support for
Roman Abramovich after the Russian owner's name was chanted during a show of
solidarity with Ukraine ahead of their Premier League win at Burnley.
Premier League clubs showed their support for Ukraine on Saturday following
Russia's invasion of the country, but Chelsea fans chose the moment of
applause before kick-off to pay tribute to Abramovich, who announced his
decision to sell the club on Wednesday evening.
Speaking after a 4-0 victory, Tuchel expressed his discomfort at the actions
of a section of Chelsea's support and claimed it was not a reflection of his
players or a club who pride themselves in showing respect.
"It was not the moment to do this," Tuchel told his post-match press
conference. "If we show solidarity, we show solidarity, we should do it
together.
"We take the knee together. If an important person from our club or another
club unfortunately dies, we show a minute of respect, it is not the moment
to give other messages, it's a moment to show respect.
"We do this because this is what we are, we show respect as a club, and we
need our fans to commit to this minute of applause.
"We do it for Ukraine, there is no second opinion about the situation there.
They have our thoughts and our support; we should stand together as a club.
It's not the moment for other messages."
A Chelsea club spokesperson told Sky Sports News: "The club's very firm view
is that moments of respect or recognition should always be honoured by
everyone present."
Russian-billionaire Abramovich has bankrolled the Blues since his takeover
in 2003, with his funding helping Chelsea to win 19 major trophies during
his reign - and travelling supporters to Turf Moor on Saturday opted to sing
his name ahead of kick-off as both sets of players observed a minute's
applause for Ukraine's war victims.
Chelsea face the prospect of Abramovich being placed under sanctions by the
UK Government, which is threatening to target Russian businesspeople
following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich denies links with the Russian Government or President Vladimir
Putin and denies doing anything that would warrant being sanctioned.
Asked whether the Chelsea owner could sell the club if he was sanctioned by
the UK Government, Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive said:
"I don't think that will work."
Burnley chairman Alan Pace had some words on the Ukraine crisis in his
programme notes.
"The events happening in the world today do throw football into context,"
Pace wrote. "I want to use this column to again send solidarity and support
to the people of Ukraine following the devastating scenes that have been
unfolding in the country since the Russian invasion.
"I believe at times like this football has the power to unite and send a
clear message. We were proud to welcome members of the local Ukrainian
community to Turf Moor this week and I want to send my support to all those
affected within the local area."
The Clarets wore warm-up shirts with the words 'Football Stands United - No
War' after they welcomed Ukrainians from the local area for the defeat
against Leicester in midweek.
Sky Sports News has approached Chelsea for comment.
How Premier League clubs are supporting
Ukraine
Earlier on Saturday, Leicester City and Leeds United kicked off the Premier
League's planned show of support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion of
the country.
In Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at the King Power Stadium, which Leicester
won 1-0, pro-Ukraine and anti-war messages were on display with further
in-stadium activity promoting peace.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, players draping the country's flag around
them as they walked out was just one of the gestures shown in last weekend's
fixtures - and similar marks of solidarity featured before the match in
Leicester.
Both sets of players observed a moment's silence for Ukraine, while a
Ukrainian flag was also held by the teams.
Leicester supporters displayed a banner reading 'We Stand with Ukraine'
alongside a picture of the Ukrainian flag before their game against Leeds.
Leicester teamed up with British and Ukrainian Red Cross to raise funds and
supplies to send to the besieged capital Kyiv - where essentials are running
out for locals sheltering underground.
The English top-flight continued to rally behind Ukraine with fans
encouraged to join players, managers, match officials and club staff in a
moment of reflection and solidarity before kick-off at each game.
The screens at stadiums will display 'Football Stands Together' against the
backdrop of the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.
In the WSL, Brighton wore their blue and yellow third kit against Aston
Villa as the two teams displayed a Ukraine flag before kick-off.
It was a similar scene at Craven Cottage ahead of Fulham's Championship
clash with Blackburn Rovers. It is a weekend in which the footballing
community is coming together as one to show support.
Ahead of kick-off around the country, teams will stand on the centre-circle
to think about all of those affected by the shocking events in Ukraine.
Southampton went a step further in showing their support for Ukraine ahead
of Saturday's Premier League fixture away at Aston Villa.
The club teamed up with main club partner Sportsbet.io, which has an office
in Kyiv, to provide free scarves for the 3,000 travelling fans as a sign of
solidarity.
Supporters travelling to the game will find the scarves on their seats ahead
of kick-off - the scarves will be in Southampton's away colours of yellow
and blue to represent the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Molineux and Carrow Road both expressed similar sentiment with splashes of
blue and yellow ahead of Wolves vs Crystal Palace and Norwich vs Brentford
respectively.
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