Who is Sarvar Ismailov? The former Everton director charged with causing GBH

Sarvar Ismailov appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with causing GBH in June. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

A former Everton director has appeared in court after being charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

Sarvar Ismailov stepped down from the Goodison Park board earlier this month.

What's happened?

The BBC reports Ismailov, 25, of Danewood Drive, London, appeared in Westminster Magistrates' Court via video link accused of assaulting Edmond Krasniqi at a flat in Hyde Park Gate on 11 June.

His brother, Sanjar Ismailov, 34, is also accused of the same crime - as well as assaulting model Astrid Fajcsi and causing her actual bodily harm on the same day at the flat in the Kensington area of London.

He is also accused of causing criminal damage to her iPhone and a diamond bracelet worth more than £5,000.

Malik Bilal, 40, from Slough, also faces a grevious bodily harm charge.

The case was adjourned by a district judge to Wednesday, 15 December. Ismailov was released on bail.

Who is Sarvar Ismailov?

Ismailov became a Toffees director in July this year but departed his role on 2 November for "personal and health reasons".

He was also Everton Women's sporting and commercial director.

Ismailov is the nephew of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, whose holding company, USM, hold the naming rights for Everton's Finch Farm training ground.

Ismailov is a qualified lawyer, having graduated from City, University of London in 2017.

According to his LinkedIn account, he worked as an investment analyst at My.com before taking up a role as an associate lawyer at law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in January 2018.

Six months later, he became an advisor to the commercial director of Moscow-based Metalloinvest.

Ismailov joined Everton in January 2019 originally as a global partnerships consultant.

After leaving the Toffees, a club statement said: “Everton Football Club can confirm that Sarvar Ismailov has stepped down from his duties for personal and health reasons.

“He has resigned from the Club’s Board of Directors and the positions of Owner’s Executive Representative and Sporting and Commercial Director at Everton Women.

“The decision was taken by Mr Ismailov and is effective immediately.”