(CNN) — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday that the British government made the right decision in sanctioning Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich but expressed sympathy for the Premier League club’s employees.

Chelsea have been granted a special license to continue to “play their matches and run the business of football” – including paying players and club staff – but will not be allowed to take certain actions, such as buying and selling new players and selling tickets for outside matches. already sold to fans.

“This is not a situation that all Chelsea employees are responsible for. One person is really responsible for that and that is Vladimir Putin,” Klopp told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s visit to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League.

“I don’t know what Roman Abramovich’s role is in all this sort of thing, but over the years you can guess that he’s been pretty secretive.

“What I think the British government has done is right […] but it’s still not good for the Chelsea people and for all the fans,” added Klopp.

On the other hand, the government said this Friday that anyone interested in buying the club could go to the government and make a proposal.

“As the current licensing terms have already been determined, sales will not be permitted,” said Britain’s Minister for Technology and the Digital Economy, Chris Philp, in an interview with Sky News UK.

“However, if a buyer comes in, I would be open to that buyer or the football club going to the government and asking for the terms to be changed so that the sale can take place,” said Philp.