An Italian newspaper apologized to Russian billionaire and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramoivhc this week. An English court found it committed libel last year. The paper ran an article stating that Abramovich lost a yacht while gambling.
According to several news reports, Abramovich’s attorney, John Kelly, told London’s High Court that his client will receive a “substantial” sum. Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso, which publishes the newspaper La Repubblica, is paying it. La Repubblica featured an article last May titled, “A black year for Abramovich as he loses a yacht at poker.” It reported that Abramovich needed to transfer ownership to cover a gambling debt of half a million euros (nearly $681,400). Additionally, it reported that poker was interfering with his relationship with his girlfriend and that he was gambling online.
“The claims were damaging and untrue,” Kelly reportedly told the judge. He further stated that the paper didn’t contact Abramovich or his representatives to confirm whether Abramovich lost a yacht. “If they had been (contacted), the defendant would have been advised of the utter falsity of the allegations,” Kelly explained.
The sum that Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso agreed to pay remains unknown. However, Kelly did tell the judge that Abramovich will donate the money to charity. The publishing company’s lawyer, Sarah Toolan, told the High Court that it “offers its sincere apologies to Mr. Abramovich for the distress and embarrassment this article has caused.” She added, “The defendant accepts that the allegations are untrue and ought never to have been published.”
Abramovich remains the owner of several yachts, including Pelorus (pictured), and is still widely reported to be taking delivery of the largest-ever-built megayacht, the 550-foot-plus Eclipse, this year.
Leave a Reply