West Ham vice-chairman Baroness Karen Brady admitted that on one of the first times she encountered Roman Abramovich, he turned up with armed bodyguards.
Brady has spoken about the Russian oligarch putting Chelsea up for sale in a detailed tribute to her relations.
The 52-year-old said that Abramovich, who has just put the Blues on the market, once turned up to an FA Cup match at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s Stadium with personnel carrying firearms.
Writing in The Sun, Brady said: “I was in place at Birmingham City when Abramovich came to watch as we played Chelsea in the FA Cup.
“There were rumours he was a dodgy man with dodgy money. I was told he had a jet permanently parked on a runway in case he had to escape from anyone or anything.
“He arrived with armed bodyguards and we had to point out it was against the law to carry guns in the UK.
“But everyone associated with Chelsea, including him, displayed nothing but professionalism and respect.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea supporters were blasted after they sang over the minute’s applause for Ukraine before playing Burnley.
Before their 4-0 win at Turf Moor, fans were heard chanting the name of Abramovich during the period in which respect was paid to Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
Abramovich announced his decision to sell the club after receiving following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with even calls for the 55-year-old to be hit with sanctions.
In response to the chanting, Thomas Tuchel said: “It’s not the moment to do this.
“If we show solidarity we show solidarity and we should do it together.
