MSI/Joorabchian takeover bid

[HammerMan2004]

Cheers Trap

[Amsterhammer]

I never normally do this, but I think it may be useful to re-post this from the depths of page 22. Interesting reading.

This is as literal a translation as I can make of a post from the Ajax forum on July 18. I subsequently PMed the poster to ask where he got this information from. He told me he'd seen bits and pieces all over the web and collated them.

NP found this while Googling our potential Iranian benefactor and sent me the link. I found the content fascinating (maybe even shocking) enough to decide to translate the whole thing.



As a reply to those unknowing ones who say that "mafia practices" and "blood money" are exaggerated terms, here is a short version of the background - you can get into this more deeply, but then it becomes very difficult to follow and quite dramatic.

The main characters are Roman Abramovich, Boris Berezovski and an Iranian, Joorabchian, who are connected by mutual friendship and/or cooperation in shady deals.

It started in Russia, when Abramovich and Berezovski's control of the media enabled them to help Boris Yeltsin come to power by focusing all attention on him, and none on the other candidates. In return, Yeltsin let them have their way in the oil industry, which turned them into multi-billionaires, and defrauded the Russian state for many billions too.

After Putin came to power, Berezovski fled to England, to London as it happens, because he was being charged not only with fraud, but also with arms trading with Chechen rebels - the rebels we know all about after their bloody attacks in Moscow and on the school in Beslan where hundreds died. (Remember that this friend and business partner of Abramovich is suspected of terrorist connections.)

Abramovich jumped in to try and clean up the mess, and even today is still arranging repayment of millions owed....though this whole scandal is expected to disappear quietly.

All three of the above named are involved in various limited companies registered in the Virgin Islands. Of these, MSI (Media, Sports and Investments) GSA and GSI are the best known, but there are dozens of these companies which, amongst other activities, also deal in football players.

MSI was founded in 2004 with a capital of 100 pounds. But within a very short time, the company concluded a $30m deal in Sao Paolo, something which, not surprisingly, immediately aroused suspicions about the source of the money. At this point the ball started rolling as the Brazilian authorities started making enquiries in Portugal, England, Georgia and elsewhere.

Abramovich buys Chelsea and the Iranian buys Corinthians in Brazil. Several millions are suddenly transferred to Corinthians from a wealthy Georgian businessman and friend of Berezovski's, who also happens to be Chairman of Dynamo Tblisi, ostensibly for the purpose of cooperation between the two clubs. Remember that Corinthians is now owned by Berezovski's front man, the Iranian....are you still following this?

[Am not going to translate the next section as it's very convoluted and specifically Dutch related. This post was in a thread about PSV and that club's (and Guus Hiddink's personal) connection with various shady agents involved in deals that took Brazilian players to PSV, including centre-back Alex, who was bought by Chelsea and immediately farmed out to PSV for free, and PSV players (Kezman, Robben) to Chelsea - these agents (Bertolucci, Lemic, Zahavi) are all connected to Abramovich and Joorabchian. The section I am omitting connects these names to Hiddink in various ways.]

How so no "mafia practices?" How so no "blood money?" One hand washes the other amongst these big boys and those who actually do their deals for them. Their Virgin Island companies have sent many Brazilians to Europe in deals totaling tens of millions, but the money winds up staying inside the same little group, because the clubs concerned are all conduits for money 'earned' through oil, arms deals or fraud. There are also suggestions that drugs money is involved, but there is no convincing evidence for this yet.

MSI owns or part owns many European and South American players.

GSA, together with Porto, also owns or part owns a number of players who have wound up in Moscow for many millions. Zahavi, friend and confidant of Abramovich, does business on behalf of GSA.

Bought: Chelsea, CSKA Moscow and Corinthians.

On the to buy list [remember this was posted weeks before WHU was mentioned}: Deportivo, Benfica, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Polonia Warsaw.

Business partners who are willing to do deals without asking any questions: PSV, Porto, Dynamo Moscow and Dynamo Tblisi.

[The final section is a pretty strident attack on PSV in general and Hiddink in particular for doing deals with this lot. The author wonders if PSV will wind up becoming the Dutch branch of this growing cartel and just what kind of influence Arnesen is likely to have on future deals.]



I should underline that I'm in no position to verify the accuracy of what this guy says, but he does elaborate on facts we have heard since the name Joorabchian was first connected to WHU. It looks like a f*cking octopus to me. :shock:

[Norbert_Up_Norf]

I have read a few times before that Boris Berezovsky is reportedly behind MSI but im alot more interested in the bit about the personal battle with Roman. If thats true then we shouldnt have to worry about becoming a feeder club to Chelsea and hopefully he would want to do everything bigger and better than Roma ultimately making us more succesful than Chelsea.

And people are saying Chelsea will dominate English football for the next 10 years...

sounds a lot like Al Fayed v Tiny Rowland mark II ........

[Portsmouth Hammer]

Mods is there any chance we can combine the 2 takeover threads they started out differently but have now become the same thread just a bit out of synch?

[Trap1]

HAMMER TIME FOR RUSSIANS (Express)

by Gideon Brooks , slightly edited by Trap, in fact this is a summary of a long story by someone who can't type.

The Pitches of the premiership look set to become a personal battleground for two bitter Russian billionaires after a comapany with ties to former oligarch Boris Berezovsky closed in on a buyout of West Ham.
Berezovsky apolitical refugee now based in London and a former business associate of Abramovich is believed to provide the financial muscle to MSI.
Joorabachian said if successful in their £75 million bid there would be a further investment of £30 million plus £100 million on players to ensure they become a major force in the Premiership. He said "there is no point in buying West Ham unless you are going to invest in turning them into one of the top teams in the country, there is huge potential there".
Should the takeover go through it would set up east London joining West London awash with cash.
Just as interesting is the added spicefrom the bitter feud arising from a dispute over money between Roman and Boris that the latter has threatened to take to the high court.
Boris has allegedthat in 2000 he was obliged by Roman to sell his stakes in oil company Sibneft, aluminium producer RusAl and tv station ORT to the government at knockdown prices. While it left him with close to £55million it ensured the slow erosion of his asset base in Russia following his falllout with Vladimir Putin's government. He came to the UK in 2003 and was granted asylum.
MSI will meet in London on Friday to discuss any move but the Iranian says one will come.



THE £100m war chest that boosts Kia aura.

by Harry Harris, summary again folks, by Trap


Kia Joorabachian's backers from Russia and the Middle Easthave the funds avaliable to ensure West Ham can challenge Chelsea and Manchester United.

"For the moment I am concentrating on Corinthians but I would ideally like to be in a position of control by the new year".
Already he has earmarked to import outstanding South Americans who have obtained European passports while others are breaking into their national sides which would meet the key qualification criteria for a UK work permit. He would supplement that with players from Europe where prices are more reasonable than the UK. But he won't be frightened off in this country if the manager wants a particular star.
A bid is expected to be delivered within the nest 48 hours. An insider close to the bid said the main aim was ensure the club stayed in the Premiership.
He will probably have to go to £50 million to clinch any deal.


Apologies to both journalists for picking apart your stories.

[HammerMan2004]

Already he has earmarked to import outstanding South Americans who have obtained European passports while others are breaking into their national sides which would meet the key qualification criteria for a UK work permit. He would supplement that with players from Europe where prices are more reasonable than the UK.

Hmmm....I like our pretty much all-british squad....

[Portsmouth Hammer]

Thanks trap, your hard work is appreciated.

I dont think there is much new here, just seems like they have googled some names and written a story! I am sure that most of this has appeared somewhere on this thread.

[Norbert_Up_Norf]

Is it just me, or is anyone else now thinking about the Yossi transfer in a different light, given that Zahavi owned this guy's contract and his apparent involvement with MSI/GSA/whoever?

Could this have been some kind of pre-cursor to this takeover bid?

: : :

[Happyhammer]

I feel that west ham might be turning it a shop window for other clubs who want to be bought, as I'm sure I read on here that west ham ARE NOT the only club they have been looking at :cry:

[jastons]

I feel that west ham might be turning it a shop window for other clubs who want to be bought, as I'm sure I read on here that west ham ARE NOT the only club they have been looking at :cry:

Your are right, Kia has reportedly looked at other Premier league clubs including Aston Villa, Newcastle and Arsenal. Abramovich was first interested in buying Spurs before turning his attentions to Chelsea. From what i understand, Kia has looked at a few clubs and West Ham appear to be the best bet for him.

[Larry]

Is it just me, or is anyone else now thinking about the Yossi transfer in a different light, given that Zahavi owned this guy's contract and his apparent involvement with MSI/GSA/whoever?

Could this have been some kind of pre-cursor to this takeover bid?

:?: :?: :?:

I doubt it.

[Norbert_Up_Norf]

I doubt it.

I'll get my then

[Happyhammer]

Your are right, Kia has reportedly looked at other Premier league clubs including Aston Villa, Newcastle and Arsenal. Abramovich was first interested in buying Spurs before turning his attentions to Chelsea. From what i understand, Kia has looked at a few clubs and West Ham appear to be the best bet for him.

well I truley hope if it happens it done quick, or I fear well end up no where... Just like my dreams.....

[Trap1]

Almost forgot to add something I was told but until today did not fully understand, if anything comes from Harry Harris on this then take it as gospel, he has a very good source.

[GIBBO]

i would love to win all sorts of trophies with world class players and that. But i was just thinking that if we had success would be like chelsea and start charging top dollar for every match

[HammerMan2004]

Almost forgot to add something I was told but until today did not fully understand, if anything comes from Harry Harris on this then take it as gospel, he has a very good source.

Who's Harry Harris then?

Journo?

[Trap1]

Who's Harry Harris then?

Journo?

A PM is on the way Hammerman.

[highbury hammer]

I never normally do this, but I think it may be useful to re-post this from the depths of page 22. Interesting reading.

That is an interesting read, but why would the cartel need another branch in London?

[HammerMan2004]

A PM is on the way Hammerman.

Gracias

[Metal Hammer]

Who's Harry Harris then?

Journo?

The second article was credited to him wasn't it?