In these straitened times, it may be difficult for Everton FC to find alternative funds of the same size, but the club has taken the decision to cut its ties with the USM investment organisation and its proprietor, Alisher Usmanov. The Uzbek billionaire is a Putin supporter and is already subject to an EU travel ban. The money may have been welcome, but the fans will be relieved that Usmanov's influence on football decisions will be no more.
That follows a statement by Roman Abramovich that he will go further than his earlier plan, to transfer management of Chelsea FC to a board of trustees, and actually sell the club, writing off £1,5bn in loans in the process. Abramovich, another person once close to Putin, has been sanctioned by the US, and is in the sights of the UK government.
None of the other 18 clubs in the Premier League seem to be dependent on Russian money, though some have questioned the propriety of companies promoting gambling and of repressive Middle Eastern régimes also owning English football clubs. The list is here.
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