Everton Football Club has made moves to break the link between its new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov (pictured).
The club has announced that it has suspended with immediate effect all commercial sponsorship arrangements with the Russian companies USM, Megafon and Yota.
USM is 49% owned by Usmanov, who was sanctioned by the European Union on Monday for alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
USM agreed in January 2020 to pay Everton £30m for the option of becoming the main sponsor of the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, which is currently under construction. USM is also sponsor of the club’s training ground, Finch Farm. Megafon and Yota are also associated with Usmanov.
The club said in a statement: “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.”
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