The Ricketts family have pulled out of the fight to purchase Chelsea Football Club, they have confirmed.
Since Roman Abramovich put the Blues up for sale, the Ricketts family have been one of the main names tipped to take over at Stamford Bridge.
However, they have been subjected to a fair bit of fan backlash in the process. As per football.london, ‘this comes after leaked emails via Splinter were re-posted from 2017 revealing Islamophobic remarks by Joe Ricketts’.
The most shared of the quotes on the part of Chelsea’s supporters has come in the form of Islam being referred to as a “cult”, with it too revealed that the patriarch of the family commented that “Muslims are naturally my (our) enemy due to their deep antagonism and bias against non-Muslims”.’
The aforementioned backlash has included the creation of the NoToRicketts hashtag, followed by a small protest outside Stamford Bridge:
“F*** off the Ricketts, you’re not wanted here.” #cfc #NoToRicketts pic.twitter.com/wyd0b04Huo
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 2, 2022
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Ricketts family withdraw Chelsea interest
Now though, it appears as though the Ricketts family are no longer in the running to buy Chelsea.
As reported by various sources, the Ricketts family released a statement confirming that they have decided not to submit a final bid for Chelsea:
“The Ricketts-Griffin-Gilbert group has decided, after careful consideration, not to submit a final bid for Chelsea FC,” read a Ricketts family statement.
“In the process of finalising the proposal, it became increasingly clear that certain issues could not be addressed given the unusual dynamics around the sales process.
“We have great admiration for Chelsea and its fans and we wish the new owners well.”
The Ricketts led bid for Chelsea has pulled out. Told it wasn’t to do with fan reaction but more about them just not being able to agree a deal. #CFC pic.twitter.com/qgTS3rd4BK
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 15, 2022
