Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea, has become an EU citizen after gaining a Portuguese passport amid tensions between the United Kingdom and Russia.
Born in Russia, Abramovich has been able to qualify for Portuguese citizenship via a law in the country which offers the descendants of Sephardic Jews who were made to leave the Iberian Peninsula during the Inquisition.
He opted to not get a UK visa in 2018 following ongoing diplomatic issues between the country and Russia in the wake of the Salisbury poisoning incident.
How did he get the passport and what does this mean?
In 2018 Abramovich gained an Israeli passport, which he uses to visit family in the UK without needing a visa.
It is on the back of this that many Israeli Jews have gained Portuguese citizenship through the same route that the Chelsea owner has taken.
Now that Abramovich has EU citizenship he will have to pass the UK's post-Brexit immigration system if he were to stay and work in the UK.
What does the Portuguese law mean?
The law exists in Portugal to naturalise descendants of Sephardic Jews and give them the opportunity to gain citizenship due to circumstances that go back some 500 years.
In 1492 some 300,000 Jews lived in the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Spain) before the Catholic Monarchs Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand ordered them and Muslims to leave the region or convert to Catholicism.
Many left for Portugal but were not exempt from persecution there either, being expelled in 1496.
As a result, modern Portuguese law rules that descendants of Jews from this region can get a passport.
Chelsea under Abramovich
Abramovich bought Chelsea in June 2003 and had dreams to make them one of the most successful clubs in European football.
Since taking over Chelsea have won 18 major trophies, which include:
The Russian oligarch has also been known for having a visible presence at games and liaising with managers, as well as being willing to invest heavily in the squad.