Hypocritical & despicable

MP says star should hand back oligarch concert cash

- TOM BRYANT

ROBBIE IS BLASTED OVER UKRAINE GIG

ROBBIE Williams faces claims of hypocrisy for promoting a football match to help Ukraine war victims after previously making cash from Russian oligarchs.

The star will perform at half-time during tomorrow’s Soccer Aid game, an event he founded in 2006.

But his appearance has sparked controversy given his former financial links to super-rich Russians, some of who are now sanctioned for their close ties to Vladimir Putin who recently invaded Ukraine.

While those gigs took place long before the Kremlin’s tanks rolled in at the end of February, Robbie has consistently maintained a silence over his performances. Nor has he commented on the invasion.

Some other stars who have played to oligarchs have said they will not do so again in light of the Ukraine war.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Russia, said: “I’ve long been a fan but Robbie should be ashamed.