Kia Joorabchian

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Kia Joorabchian
Born 14 July 1971 (1971-07-14) (age 36)
Tehran, Iran
Occupation Businessman, founder and President of Media Sports Investments - +
Net worth ▲ £60.75 million
Website
www.mediasportsinvestments.com

Kiavash "Kia" Joorabchian (Persian: کیا جورابچيان, born 14 July 1971, in Tehran, Iran) is a British Iranian businessman.

[edit] Biography

Third son of Iranian businessman, Mohammed Joorabchian,[1] Kia and his family fled Iran following the fall of the Shah. They came to Great Britain, where his father ran car dealerships. Eventually, Joorabchian was sent to Shiplake College in Oxfordshire for his education. He went on to study chemistry and business studies at Queen Mary, University of London, dropping out in his second year.[2]

Joorabchian is understood to have become a multi-millionaire from the sale of his equity company, American Capital.[2] He founded Media Sports Investments in 2004, which he used to take over Brazilian football club Corinthians, in a 10 year deal.[3] After he bought the club, he moved to Brazil and changed the way business was run, as the club had an increased revenue of 500% in the first year.[2]

Joorabchian had been linked with a bid for football club West Ham United in August 2005,[4] and said he would make £100m available for buying players if his bid was successful.[5] However, this deal came to an end when he and the club failed to agree on a valuation.[6]

Joorabchian resigned as president of MSI in June 2006.[7] His company, MSI, was behind the controversial transfer of Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano to West Ham United in August 2006.[2] In September 2006, Joorabchian had again been linked with a take-over of West Ham United.[8] His interest in taking over the club came to an end as he failed to make any offer for the club.[9] Joorabchian had been linked with a move for Fulham in early 2007 and more recently Southampton.[10]

Joorabchian hit out at West Ham over Carlos Tévez's move to Manchester United on 12 July 2007 via a statement through MSI, saying "West Ham have consistently provided private assurances while at the same time making contrary statements to the public at large". United could not complete their move for Tévez unless the Premier League were convinced his economic rights were owned by West Ham and not Joorabchian.[11] Joorabchian claimed he and his company held Tévez's economic rights, which West Ham denied, saying the player was registered with them.[12]

On 13 July 2007 Joorabchian was the subject of an international arrest warrant for money laundering at Corinthians (in which Joorabchian's company MSI is a majority investor) by Brazillian Judge Fausto Martin de Sanctis. Joorabchian insisted all of his financial dealings were cleared by the Brazilian Central Bank.[13]

Joorabchian denied responsibility the for the fall of Corinthians to the Brazilian championship's second division,[14] a position supported by the ex-coach of the team, Antonio Lopes.[15]

In January 2008 it was reported that he was mounting a £50 million take over bid for Southampton.[16]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Colourful life of car dealer turned oil trader who wants to own Hammers", The Independent, 2006-09-02. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Joorabchian oils the wheels that make the deals", Guardian unlimited, 2006-09-04. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  3. ^ "Is this man the new Abramovich or is he a front for the real thing?", Guardian unlimited, 2004-12-10. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  4. ^ "Investor 'eyes £70m Hammers deal'", BBC Sport, 2006-08-05. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  5. ^ "Hammers promised takeover bounty", BBC Sport, 2005-08-18. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  6. ^ "West Ham takeover plan scrapped", BBC Sport, 2005-11-24. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  7. ^ "West Ham sign Tevez & Mascherano", BBC Sport, 2006-08-31. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  8. ^ "Joorabchian may make Hammers bid", BBC Sport, 2006-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  9. ^ "West Ham accept £85m takeover bid", BBC Sport, 2006-11-21. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  10. ^ "Tevez adviser hits out at Hammers", BBC Sport, 2007-07-19. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  11. ^ "Joorabchian to reveal 'true circumstances' of Tevez deal", IOL, 2007-07-19. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  12. ^ "Joorabchian denies money-laundering", ESPNsoccernet, 2007-07-13. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  13. ^ http://www.lancenet.com.br/clubes/COR/noticias/07-12-04/202320.stm
  14. ^ Gazeta Esportiva.Net - Futebol - Seu Time - Corinthians
  15. ^ "Tycoon Wants Southampton", goal.com, 2008-01-05. Retrieved on 2008-01-06. 
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