Farhad Moshiri not named in UK Government press release as ex-Everton sponsors sanctioned
Former Everton sponsors USM have been sanctioned by the UK Government due to being a part of the “financial network” of Alisher Usmanov.
Freelance journalist Paul Brown, who’s written for the Daily Star, relayed a press release on the Gov.uk website on 12 April, saying that the UK has “targeted” Usmanov’s companies, including USM, who previously held the naming rights to Everton’s Finch Farm training ground.
Farhad Moshiri was a close business partner with Usmanov and Brown wrote on Twitter on 12 April: “It will be a relief to potential investors like MSP that Moshiri’s name does not appear here.”
New York-based firm MSP Sports Capital are reportedly in advanced talks over buying into Everton with majority shareholder Moshiri [iNews], who’s seeking fresh investment at Goodison Park since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused the UK to sanction Usmanov.
Why would he be mentioned?
Moshiri worked with Usmanov but there’s no evidence to suggest he’s someone who’d be sanctioned by the UK Government as a result of the Ukrainian and Russian war.
A lot of people will have teamed up with Usmanov and struck deals with the Uzbekistan-born oligarch over the years so it’s no surprise that Moshiri hasn’t been mentioned at all by the Government in this press release.
Moshiri needs to crack on in talks with MSP or whichever other investors are keen on buying into the Blues.
While it may have to wait until the club’s Premier League fate is sealed, it’s good that there’s a party who seem very interested and talks sound serious.
Moshiri cannot bankroll Everton by himself. The fact he had to use deals with Usmanov to help him in the past – such as selling the naming rights of Finch Farm to USM – proves this.
We’re in the process of building a new £500million stadium and also fighting against our lives to stay in the Premier League with profit and sustainability rules constantly being scrutinised to the nth degree.
Moshiri needs this deal badly.