Frank Lampard: Suspending Russia sponsorship deals shows Everton are doing the right thing

Frank Lampard has said Everton’s decision to suspend the sponsorship deals with three Russian companies run by the billionaire Alisher Usmanov is proof they are taking the right decisions.

Everton have put their commercial arrangements with USM, who sponsored their Finch Farm training ground and who have a naming-rights option for their new stadium, Megafon and Yota on hold after Usmanov, a business partner of owner Farhad Moshiri, had his assets frozen by the European Union.

Lampard, who denied that Usmanov, who used to own 30 per cent of Arsenal, was one of those to interview him for the Everton job, said his brief time on Merseyside and the show of support for Ukraine before Saturday’s game against Manchester City, underlined his belief in their board.

“Working closely with the people running the club, I have absolute faith they will make the right decisions,” he said. “The way we reacted against Manchester City and the steps we made, I think we were one of the forerunners of showing solidarity and unity. Suspension for me is the right thing to do. I think today again is a show of us as a club doing the right thing.”

The club said in a statement: “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.”

Everton’s players took the field on Saturday with Ukrainian flags draped around them and Lampard confirmed Mykolenko will begin Thursday's FA Cup game against non-league Boreham Wood. City made Oleksandr Zinchenko captain against Peterborough on Tuesday