As the exact details of the U.K.’s sanctions package against Russia continue to be worked out, the ramifications are beginning to be felt through English football, with Everton severing ties with Alisher Usmanov and Roman Abramovich apparently looking to sell Chelsea.
Usmanov, an Uzbek-born Russian metals tycoon, has had his assets frozen by the European Union, although no sanction has yet been imposed by the U.K., and he insists claims he is linked to Vladimir Putin are “false and defamatory.” He is a close business associate of Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, and, although he does not own any share in the club, he is involved in a number of sponsorship deals.
His company USM Holdings has had a £12 million ($16 million) per year sponsorship deal of Everton’s Finch Farm training ground since 2017 and paid £30 million for an option on first naming rights at the new stadium being built at Bramley Dock. Everton’s women’s team is sponsored by MegaFon, of which Usmanov is the majority shareholder, and Yota, a subsidiary. Moshiri has a stake in both USM and MegaFon. USM, MegaFon and Yota branding will be removed from the stadium and training ground in the coming days.
