Everton cut ties with Alisher Usmanov after Russian invasion of Ukraine

Everton Football club has suspended commercial sponsorship with Alisher Usmanov's USM Holdings as a result of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement, the Merseyside club 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."

The Uzbekistani-born Mr Usmanov’s USM sponsored Everton’s Finch Farm training ground, with an initial five-year deal being announced by the club back in 2017.

Mr Usmanov also had an option on a £30m deal for the naming rights on Everton’s new stadium currently being constructed in Liverpool docks.

The news comes as Mr Usmanov was sanctioned by the EU, having his assets frozen and a travel ban preventing him from entering or transiting through EU territory.

A regulation update in the Official Journal of the European Union described Mr Usmanov as a “pro-Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin."

It continued: “He has been referred to as one of Vladimir Putin’s favourite oligarchs. He is considered to be one of Russia’s businessmen-officials, who were entrusted with servicing financial flows, but their positions depend on the will of the President.”