Labor MP Chris Bryant urged Everton to cut ties with Alisher Usmanov

Labor MP Chris Bryant urged Everton to cut ties with Alisher Usmanov | football news

Posted On: March 1, 2022

Chris Bryant, the Labor MP who last week said Roman Abramovich’s assets should be seized, has urged Everton to sever ties with billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

The Uzbek-born Usmanov is not officially involved with Everton, but his company USM sponsors the club’s training camp, while another, Megafon, is Everton’s main women’s shirt sponsor.

The European Union froze his assets on Monday, 68, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Labor MP Chris Bryant said he expected Usmanov to be sanctioned by the UK in the near future, adding that he believed the same prospect had left Blues owner Roman Abramovich “terrified”.

Last week in the House of Commons, Bryant said Abramovich should have his assets seized.

Bryant said on Tuesday: “Alisher Usmanov has already been sanctioned by the EU, but not yet by the UK. But I suspect he will be on a UK roster soon and surely Everton should cut ties with him by now.

What did Chris Bryant say about Roman Abramovich?

Speaking last week in the House of Commons, Bryant used parliamentary privilege to refer to a leaked 2019 Home Office document that suggested Roman Abramovich should not be allowed to be based in the UK.

He said: “That was almost three years ago and yet very little has been done about it. Shouldn’t Mr. Abramovich own a soccer club in this country anymore?

“Surely we should consider seizing some of his assets, including his £152m home? »

“Roman Abramovich, well, I think he is terrified of being punished, so he will already sell his house tomorrow, and he will also sell another apartment. My concern is that we are taking too long on these things.

“I have a suggestion about what might help. I am afraid that the government is afraid of the letters from the lawyers of all the friends of these oligarchs. One way around this is for ministers to simply read into the minutes a procedure in parliament, all the criteria sanctioned, and then they would be protected. »

Usmanov released a statement Tuesday through the International Fencing Federation, of which he had been president since 2008. The statement said: “On February 28, 2022, I became the target of restrictive measures imposed by the European Union. .

“I believe that such a decision is unfair and the reasons given for the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory accusations that attack my honor, my dignity and my business reputation.

“I will use all legal means to protect my honor and reputation.

“I hereby suspend the exercise of my functions as President of the International Fencing Federation with immediate effect until justice is restored. »

Sky Sports News has contacted representatives of Everton and Abramovich.