Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. After Chelsea's Club World Cup win at the weekend, Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by author Nick Purewal, who discusses his book Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC about the sanctioning of Roman Abramovich and the sale of Chelsea FC.

Here we give a unique insight into the unprecedented chaos surrounding Chelsea during their 2022 sale, including behind-the-scenes details of Abramovich's involvement in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, a near-poisoning event, and the tumultuous sale process of the club that led to current owner Todd Boehly buying the club.

00:00 Introduction

04:51 Abramovich's Role and the War's Impact

07:35 The Rapid Downfall and Sanctions

16:04 Abramovich's Involvement in Peace Talks

19:28 The Poisoning Incident

26:10 Skepticism and Vindication

29:52 Legal Confusion and Government Challenges

31:47 Chelsea's Struggles Under Sanctions

35:23 The High-Stakes Sale Process

38:48 The Bidding War Heats Up

44:26 Jim Ratcliffe's Last-Minute Bid

50:10 The Aftermath and Reflections

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