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Originally Posted by Rob
Abramovic owns Chelsea and CSKA Moscow and they are in the same group.
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UEFA are to investigate possible links between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Russian side CSKA Moscow after both clubs were drawn in the same group of the Champions League.
European football's governing body will look into a £30million three-year sponsorship deal with CSKA announced earlier this year by Sibneft, the Russian oil giant in which Abramovich holds the majority shareholding.
UEFA communications director William Gaillard told the Press Association: "We are going to look into it and see whether there is a controlling interest by Mr Abramovich with two teams in the same group."
He added: "We have to find out whether it is a controlling interest or not. We may already have the facts to decide to dismiss it as a problem but it has to be looked into thoroughly."
Abramovich is a close friend of CSKA president Yevgeny Giner and was a guest in his personal VIP box in Moscow on two occasions earlier this year.
Under current regulations, no person is allowed a controlling interest in two clubs playing in the same competition but UEFA will have to decide whether the sponsorship deal counts as any conflict of interest.
Chelsea issued a statement in a bid to refute any suggestion of a conflict of interest for Abramovich.
"Chelsea is certain that UEFA and any other clubs in the Champions League should be completely unconcerned by this matter," the statement read.
"The situation is very clear. Mr. Abramovich is the owner of Chelsea Football Club while Sibneft, a company in which he is one of many shareholders, is the shirt sponsor of CSKA Moscow.
"Mr Abramovich has no equity stake or any direct financial interest in CSKA."