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'Chelsea fans will start supporting Newcastle now!': Rival fans joke that Blues followers will swap allegiances to follow Saudi-funded Magpies after ministers froze Roman Ambramovich's assets

Social media is awash with memes as rival football fans mock Chelsea Football Club after their billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich was today hit by government sanctions.

Abramovich, whose tainted billions propelled Chelsea from mid-table mediocrity to five Premier League titles, has been banned from doing business in the UK - meaning his plan to sell the club is on hold.

The tycoon with an estimated worth of £10billion made his money selling assets purchased from the rubble of the Russian state when the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s.

But in the wake of the UK government hitting him with personal sanctions and asset freezes - meaning any potential £3bn sale of the club has been postponed - rival football fans have been mercilessly mocking their Premier League foes.