Sponsors Trivago stick with Chelsea amid sanctions after Three cut shirt deal

The only Chelsea sponsors to have pledged their commitment to the club are still advertising hotel stays in Russia.

Trivago yesterday announced they would continue as training kit sponsors, despite other partners walking away in the wake of the sanctions against owner Roman Abramovich.

The travel brand, who signed a multi-year deal with Chelsea last summer, said it is ‘important to us to continue supporting the club, the fans and community’, while calling for a change of ownership ‘as soon as possible’.

But the company have come under further scrutiny after it emerged they are still offering Russian hotels to customers on their website.

That is despite most other major travel firms all blocking the ability for users to book stays in the country.

On their deal with Chelsea, Trivago said: ‘As a global travel brand, we believe in connecting and bringing people together.

These are values shared by Chelsea, an institution now 117 years old with a tradition so vitally important to its fans and communities and that is why we decided to partner with the club.

The uncertainty over the ownership situation of Chelsea has been challenging. It is important to us to continue supporting the club, the fans and community. We are looking forward to a transition of ownership as soon as possible.’

As of last night, Trivago are the only partners listed on Chelsea’s website to have publicly stood by the club, while kit suppliers Nike are also expected to stay.

Shirt sponsors Three suspended their deal, while Zapp and Hyundai are considering walking away. Children’s charity Plan International have brought forward the end of their partnership with the Blues by two months.