The Shenanigans With Alisher Usmanov and his pursuit of the Arsenal
Arsenal fans were weary of new shareholder Alisher Usmanov’s plans for the club; they will be even more uncertain now after recent events. To start off, Usmanov is a Russian businessman whose fortune came from lumber, mining and investment. He has an estimated value of $5.5 billion, making him the 18th richest person in Russia. A few months ago, common football fans had not heard of the man; now he is one of the biggest talking points in world football today.
Usmanov currently holds 21% of all the shares in Arsenal Football Club, meaning he is the second largest shareholder after Danny Fiszman (who has 24%). Usmanov set up a company to hold the shares, ironically named Red & White Holdings with ex-Arsenal vice chairman David Dein appointed head of the company. Arsenal fans around the world are not to happy with this move due to various past untoward activities, and with the recent departure of Jose Mourinho from Chelsea due to Roman Abramovich’s constant meddling, a potential takeover by Usmanov does not look good if you are an Arsenal fan.
Many accusations have been made against Usmanov; former British ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray first accused the Russian of fraud, corruption and theft of state amongst other things on September 2nd. Since then, these allegations have been circulated on a variety of websites, with Arsenal forums and chat sites debating it the most. All aspects of people related to football are going to get discussed- whether you’re talking about what Rio Ferdinand eats for lunch or why Rafa Benitez has those silly sideburns, so anyone wanting to be involved in the sport should not be too worried by the average fan’s views. Usmanov however immediately instructed his legal advisors to contact blogs and internet forums; many were threatened with legal action in order to persuade them to remove their posts.
At one point in Arsenal’s time Dein was the driving force behind a rise to one of the best teams in the world; now he seems content to lead what seems like a dictatorship. I can see no other reason for this than his own ego- anyone with half a brain cell would realize that Arsenal do not need a takeover at the moment, especially with the recently released financial reports. David Dein has a bit more than half a brain cell in his head, so him slowly pushing for a takeover will not just push the current board away from him, but also alienate the fans.
All in all this is shameful business; from the first attempt to secure the takeover (Dein secretly contacted members of the Arsenal board) to this most recent act of threatening football fans if they shared their views with the world. Dein is slowly becoming a hate figure for Arsenal fans; he would do well to halt his efforts before his entire legacy is derided. As for Usmanov, fraud, corruption and theft of state allegations aside, the actions of his representatives have lost him whatever benefit of the doubt he might have received from the press or fans.
There’s no way Arsenal fans will view him as a positive influence on the club, and it’s cause for concern for the Arsenal as long as Red & White Holdings own 21% of Arsenal.
Topics: Arsenal, Features, Off The Record
Football News 24/7
[...] The Shenanigans with Alisher Usmanov and his pursuit of the Arsenal [...]
September 26th, 2007 @ 23:46As a nine year old boy at a new school in north London i rember being asked ” red or white ” – ” tottenham or Arsenal “, my father had just died and left me with no preferances, i chose red. I chose on behalf of my three younger brothers aswell as my self. I went to my first game a couple of weeks later with the inquisitors father,occasionally i look back at that pivotal moment and although a none beliver i thank the gods.
Forty odd years later, through thick and thin, as boy and then a man. I am worried; how ironic our Arsenal are playing the best football any fan from any club has ever seen, the future obviously secure. From the investment in the club with the new ground to the unbelivable and enviable investment in youth policy. ( witness the under nine’s latest demolition of newcastle ).
Yet all this could be shatterd by a creep like usmanov ( when i say Creep i am loudly useing the ‘c’ word ) as by now every Gooner i suspect has checked out the material on the Craig Murray webb site before it was taken out by usmanov’s laywers ( schillings ). Corperate Creeps!
This above all for me is the last Creeping straw, if you haven’t already read the Craig Murray article, read it. This Creep is gonna suck our club dry, worse still he’s prepared to abuse your civil rights, your freedom of speach.
If you did’nt know already there’s an online petition to the F.A to investigate this Creep, i reckon find it and sign it!!!!
September 27th, 2007 @ 06:07there are links to this petition on arseblog.com. go and show ur support for the club. Remember: arsenal play the most liberal football in england and lets hope that arsenal can be suported in a liberal way, without some ugly fat cunt threatening US (the fans) with legal action action for expressing our feelings.
September 27th, 2007 @ 08:47Vital Arsenal also has link the to petition and a number of fans active in a campain to remove Dein and Usmanov from the club,we would be greatful for any support fellow Arsenal Fans wish to give.
September 27th, 2007 @ 21:40Link to petition;
http://www.petitiononline.com/UsmaAFC/petition.html
Link to Craig Murrys artical(supressed by Usmanov)
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2474&Itemid=81
Many thanks to all that signed the petition