Chelsea’s Champions League match in Lille tomorrow night is ‘at real risk’ of being called off, according to figures in France, after the club’s owner Roman Abramovich was added to the European Union’s sanction ‘black list’.

In the UK, the Blues have been able to continue operating after being handed a licence by the government, despite Abramovich coming under the spotlight for his ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine.

This acts as an exemption, allowing them to go about their sporting business as usual, but it has now emerged that the club may need a similar licence to be able to play their match – and generate income – on French soil.

L’Equipe have reported that this documentation is ‘necessary’ for Chelsea, who are still owned, de facto, by businessman Abramovich. The same outlet, however, says the decision may be granted by the authorities out of respect for ‘sporting fairness’.

The ‘black list’ named by the EU this morning features a number of new Russian oligarch. They said it was decided to ‘impose a fourth set of economic and individual sanctions in view of [this] military aggression’, namely the bloodshed in Ukraine.

Various stakeholders at Chelsea, UEFA and the Council of the EU are said to have been informed about the risk and consequences stemming from the new sanctions.

On the uncertain situation, a source told L’Equipe: ‘If there is no exception listed in the texts… concerning these sanctions, I think that there is a real risk for the holding of the match in Lille and the players who participate in this meeting.’