Alisher Usmanov, the billionaire whose business interests had sponsorship agreements with Everton, was barred from entering the UK prior to being hit with sanctions last year.
The 69-year-old Uzbek, a long-time friend and business associate of Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, was hit with sanctions by the UK Government in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Usmanov’s historical ties to Russian president Vladmir Putin. Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was subject to similar sanctions that saw him forced to sell the Stamford Bridge club.
In the wake of Usmanov’s sanctions, Everton severed ties with sponsors such as USM and Megafon, both visible brands at both Goodison Park and the club’s Finch Farm training ground, due to the Uzbek’s significant shareholding in those companies. Moshiri also gave up his seat on the board of directors at USM.
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According to The Guardian, Usmanov had been sent a letter by the Home Office in September 2021 barring him from entering the UK through an exclusion order due to the Home Office’s view that he was ‘non-conducive to the public good’. The report claims that the Everton board were aware of the ban Usmanov had received from the Home Office, but this claim appears to be disputed by a Times article today which suggests Everton say they did not know of the Home Office order at the time. Everton made no comment when approached by the ECHO.
The phrase used by the Home Office is in line with their guidelines and is used when it is ‘undesirable to admit the person to the UK, based on their character, conduct, or associations because they pose a threat to UK society’.
At the time of Usmanov’s letter from the Home Office, his nephew Sarvar Ismailov, was a board member at the club having joined in 2019. His departure was announced from the club and all roles held in November 2021. He would later be subject to sanctions during the crackdown of pro-Putin oligarchs and their connections in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
Last year Usmanov branded the 2022 sanctions by the Foreign Office as “false and defamatory allegations damaging my honour, dignity and business reputation” and had vowed to fight them. Last month the Government continued its crackdown by targeting the ‘financial network’ of Usmanov that resulted in sanctions against linked companies including USM, Curzon Square Limited, and Hanley Limited.
USM and Megafon had been prominent sponsorship partners with Everton prior to the severance of the relationship with the firms in March of last year. USM had previously been referred to as a ‘related party’ in club accounts due to Moshiri’s shareholding with the company and previously held board position, with the firm having paid a £30m sum for the naming rights option on the new stadium development at Bramley Moore Dock.
Everton were under no legal obligation to cancel the sponsorship agreements that were in place with Usmanov-linked businesses prior to the 2022 sanctions. It is understood that no Premier League rules have been breached in relation to the club’s previous sponsorship agreements and Usmanov’s travel ban.
In having to cut ties with USM and Megafon, Everton were left with a considerable commercial void that they have been working to fill. As well as the naming rights option that existed with USM, which now almost certainly won’t be taken up, the firm also provided title sponsorship for the club’s Finch Farm training ground, while Megafon was a key commercial partner for Everton Women.
Everton, the Home Office and USM declined when approached for comment.
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