Portugal Says Sanctions Against Abramovich Don’t Apply Outside UK

Chelsea Football Club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich is pictured during a break in proceedings at the High Court in central London, on Oct. 31, 2011. Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images

LISBON—Portugal said on Thursday that sanctions imposed by Britain on billionaire Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich, a Portuguese citizen since last year, did not apply outside the United Kingdom due to its exit from the European Union.

In a statement sent to Reuters, the justice ministry also said EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine do not include scrapping someone’s citizenship.