Micah Richards blasts Abramovich for "poor" Chelsea statement "written in code"

Former England defender Micah Richards has accused Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich of delivering a message "almost written in code" as the Russian announced his future plans in west London.

Abramovich has pledged to put the "stewardship and care" of the club into the hands of its charitable foundation, prompting broadcaster Piers Morgan to call for the 55-year-old to "denounce the war loudly and clearly".

The statement from the Chelsea owner, delivered less than 24 hours before Chelsea's Carabao Cup final meeting with Liverpool, was read out in the Sky Sports studio during coverage of Manchester City's Premier League meeting with Everton.

Richards was covering the game as a pundit, and the ex-defender called for greater clarity over a statement which he suggested didn't go far enough.

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"I have always taken decisions with the Club's best interest at heart." Abramovich said.

"I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea's charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

"I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans."

Upon hearing the statement, Richards asked "We need more than that don't we?"

"After the last couple of days and just say you're handing it over to charity, I think it's poor," he said.

"There's so many questions to be asked, to come out with a statement just like that. What does it even mean?

"It's almost written in code, we don't want to tell you what's happening, here you go read this and pick the bones and figure out what it means."

Richards, who spent the majority of his playing career with Manchester City, was speaking after watching current City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko embrace his fellow Ukraine international Vitalii Mykolenko before the pair took to the field.

Zinchenko has been vocal in his criticism of Russian president Vladimir Putin, and joined a vigil in Manchester city centre to protest Russia's invasion of his home country.

"You realise the context of what real life is when you see what's happening over the last couple of days over there in Ukraine," Richards said.

"It pains me to see those images, I didn't play with Zinchenko, but I still go to the club and he's such a happy lad. To see him crying there on the side of the pitch, it breaks my heart.

"It's alright for us. We'll go home tonight and sleep in a nice bed and have all the support we need, but there's people in Ukraine who don't even know what they're doing tomorrow.

"Football is secondary when this stuff happens, and I find it hard just coming into work today and thinking about these sorts of things.

"I just hope it can resolve. sooner rather than later, because. watching the scenes and watching the news, and it's disgusting... it really does break my heart."