Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Soccer Owners, Corruption, and the Russian Oligarchy

Anyone heard of Roman Abramovich?

He's the Russian super-multi billionaire who owns the Chelsea Football Club of England's Premier League. (That's soccer, people.) How did he get so rich? Broadcast.com? No, that was Mark Cuban. Oil and gas exploration? No, that was Jerry Jones.

No, Roman Abramovich got his money through the creation of the Russian oligarchy in the devious loans-for-shares program. He and several others bought oil-rich government land for pennies on the dollar with loans backed by state-controlled banks. He then turned and sold the land back to the government for what it was really worth, making a multi-billion dollar profit.

Apparently, the Premier League has no problem letting this guy buy one of their teams (and a top one at that). So root on, you Chelsea fans. You have a great owner.

No comments: