Roman Abramovich could face immediate detention and then deportation from UK airports if he attempts to use his Israeli passport to make regular trips to Britain, The Times has learnt.

As an Israeli national, Abramovich is able to enter the country without applying for a visa, but there are restrictions on the number of visits that he can make and limitations on the work he can do while in the country. They could have serious implications for the way he runs Chelsea.

Having been granted an Israeli passport last week, Abramovich is entitled to stay in Britain for up to six months at a time as a business visitor. But, under the government’s immigration rules, which were updated last month, there are limits on the