Everton shareholder Mike Parry reacts to major club announcement
The announcement that Everton have suspended all commercial arrangements with Russian sponsors is right despite the cost, says Mike Parry.
The former talkSPORT presenter, who revealed on his Twitter account in December that he was one of “few independent shareholders” at the club, has reacted positively to the news, despite the ramifications it may have for the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The Toffees had released a statement earlier today (Wednesday 2 March) on their website which said: “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.”
Alisher Usmanov, the co-owner of USM and Megafon, is considered a major Everton investor according to The Athletic.
Calling him a “pro-Kremlin oligarch” the EU froze his assets on Monday in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in a move which he called “unfair”.
Writing on his Twitter account in response to the move to suspend ties with the companies, Parry wrote: “This is absolutely the right thing to have done. I’m very proud of Everton and the board’s decision to put investment from Mr Usmanov on hold.
“Obviously it may cost us in our development plans but we can sleep easily in our beds and lots of terrorised people in Ukraine can’t.”
Football’s moral quagmire
The club had to make this move as it would fly in the face of its support for Mykolenko and other Ukrainians not to.
It is the latest in a series of moves across the football world to cut ties with Russian organisations.
Uncomfortable questions are rightly being asked of football’s willingness to have such close relationships with the Russian state, and state-owned businesses, as are clubs such as the Toffees and Chelsea who benefit from the billions of oligarchs allegedly close to the Kremlin.
Owner Farhad Moshiri’s exact relationship with Usmanov is unclear and will undoubtedly be scrutinised further in light of recent developments.
A loss of investment is bound to have an impact on the major stadium plans.
According to iNews the club is adamant that won’t be the case, but it will likely to concern fans to hear it considered likely by a shareholder.
However, some things are more important than such plans, and with civilians dying in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, the decision-makers at Goodison had to make a move to save the Everton’s image.
In other Everton news, one first-team star admits he considered leaving under Rafael Benitez.
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