Everton suspend ties with Russian companies linked to Alisher Usmanov
Everton have suspended all sponsorship deals with Russian companies backed by Alisher Usmanov as it comes under increasing pressure to cut ties with the EU-sanctioned oligarch.
The Uzbekistan-born billionaire is a close business associate of Everton’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, and involved in several multimillion-pound sponsorship deals with the club.
]Usmanov’s USM Holdings company began a five-year sponsorship of Everton’s Finch Farm training ground worth about £12m a year in 2017 and paid £30m for a first naming rights option on the club’s new stadium at Bramley Moore dock. MegaFon, where Usmanov is the majority shareholder, and the Russian smartphone company Yota, which is part of the MegaFon group, sponsor Everton women. Moshiri also has a shareholding in USM and MegaFon.
The Labour MP Chris Bryant has called for Everton to terminate its contracts with Usmanov in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Everton, who signed the Ukraine international Vitalii Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv in January, have suspended the deals so far. USM, MegaFon and Yota branding will be removed from their stadium and shirts.
A club statement read: “Everyone at Everton remains shocked and saddened by the appalling events unfolding in Ukraine. This tragic situation must end as soon as possible, and any further loss of life must be avoided. The players, coaching staff and everyone working at Everton is providing full support to our player Vitalii Mykolenko and his family and will continue to do so.
“The club can confirm that it has suspended with immediate effect all commercial sponsorship arrangements with the Russian companies USM, Megafon and Yota.”
Usmanov has had his assets frozen by the EU and could be sanctioned by the UK
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