Flag of inconvenienceFIFTEEN years ago Britons searched the internet and learned to (mis)pronounce the name of an exotic Russian who had just bought an English institution,Chelsea football club. “He is Roman Abramovich, the major shareholder of Sibneft, and one of the largest oil companies in Russia…one of his closest friends is Vladimir Putin,the president of Russia,” the Daily Mail told its readers. Over the next few years the papers fell in fancy with “Red Rom”, or as the Sun dubbed him,who poured money into Chelsea. His marriages, divorces, or yachts and parties made excellent copy. He became a celebrity—the most noted Russian oligarch in London.This week Mr Abramovich made headlines again,for his absence from Chelsea’s cup-final tie with Manchester United. Chelsea won that match. But Mr Abramovich may lose a different game. His British visa expired last month and has not been renewed, putting his London mansion...
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Source: economist.com