Kia Joorabchian

Kia Joorabchian
Born	(1971-07-14) 14 July 1971 (age 53) Tehran, Iran
Occupation	Businessman

Kiavash "Kia" Joorabchian (Persian: کیا جورابچيان, born July 14, 1971^[1] is an Iranian^[2]-born British-educated businessman largely involved in Association football.

In the register of directorships at Companies House in London Joorabchain gives two nationalities, Canadian and British, as well as two names and dates of birth -both in 1971.^[1]

Kia Joorabchain was born in Tehran, Iran, the third son of an Iranian car-dealer businessman, Mohammed Joorabchian.^[3] The Joorabchian family emigrated from Iran following the fall of the Shah in 1979. They went to Great Britain and then Canada, returning to England when Joorabchian was 12. His father ran car dealerships, including Medway Autos in Kent.^[3][4]

Joorabchian was educated at Shiplake College in Oxfordshire and then at a school in Golders Green, north London. He went on to study chemistry and business studies at Queen Mary, University of London, dropping out after his second year.^[5][3]

Joorabchian worked first for his father and then as a trader at the International Petroleum Exchange in London, also becoming involved in the stock market. After five years he and his associate Reza Irani-Kermani set up an investment company, American Capital, based in Manhattan but registered in the British Virgin Islands.^[3]

A year later, in 1999, American Capital bought 85% of the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Kommersant’s ownership quickly passed to the oligarch Boris Berezovsky^[6] who was widely suspected to have been behind American Capital’s bid for the paper -something denied by Joorabchian who was said to have given assurances that he was not working on anyone else’s behalf.^[7][3] Raf Shakirov, who was replaced as editor after Berezovsky’s acquisition of Kommersant, told the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday in 2005 “Joorabchian was and is very much Berezovsky’s man”.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Joorabchian’s sale of American Capital sometime after September 11, 2001 brought him, on his own estimate, between £50m and £60m.^[3]

In 2004 Joorabchian founded Media Sports Investments to take over Brazilian football club Corinthians in a 10 year deal stipulating that MSI would provide $35m -$20m of which would cover debts- in return for 51% of future profits.^[4]

After purchasing the club Joorabchian moved to Brazil and changed the way Corinthians was run, increasing revenue by 500% in the first year.^[5]

A series of major signings included Javier Mascerano, Carlos Alberto, Roger, and, most spectacularly, Carlos Tevez, who was signed from Boca Juniors for $22m, an unprecedented amount for a transfer by a Brazilian club.^[4][1] In 2005 Corinthians won the Brazilian title.

The source of the money behind MSI was a subject of considerable speculation.^[4] The Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS suggested that a 15% share was owned by Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club^[4], while Joorbachian’s name continued to be linked to that of Berezovsky.^[1] In 2007 a Brazilian judge ordered the arrest of Berezovsky, Joorbachian, an associate, Nojan Bedroud, and five others, following allegations that Corinthians had been used to launder money.^[8] MSI responded by saying that the judge’s actions were "absurd, arbitrary and lacking legal backing".^[8]The Brazilian court papers setting out the evidence on which the warrants of arrest were issued stated: “MSI belongs and has always belonged to the accused, Boris Berezovsky”.^[9]Berezovsky denied any business connection with Joorabchian or with MSI.^[9]

In the light of these developments Corinthians broke off their association with MSI in July 2007.^[10] There had already been tensions between the club and MSI centering around MSI’s ownership of all but five members of the playing squad. Tevez and Mascherano had been transferred to West Ham United and there had been seven different managers in 18 months.^[1] In December 2007 Corinthians were relegated from Brazil's first division.^[11]

Joorabchian stepped down as president of MSI in June 2006 but retained an investment in Tevez and Mascherano, who were otherwise owned by MSI.^[12] In August 2006 the pair joined West Ham United in the English Premier League. Joorbachian had investigated the possibility of a takeover of the club the previous autumn when he promised to make £100m available for new players in a £200m deal valuing the club and its debts at £75m.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). That deal foundered when it proved impossible to agree a valuation for the club^[13]but was revived following the Tevez and Mascherano transfers,Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).although it did not result in an offer for the club which was sold to a consortium headed by Eggert Magnusson.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Joorabchian had been linked with a move for Fulham in early 2007 and more recently Southampton.^[14]

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.^[15] Joorabchian claimed he and his company held Tévez's economic rights, which West Ham denied, saying the player was registered with them.^[16]

Joorabchian denied responsibility for the fall of Corinthians to the Brazilian championship's second division,^[17] a position supported by the ex-coach of the team, Antônio Lopes.^[18]

In January 2008 it was reported that he was mounting a £50 million take over bid for Southampton. In 19 August 2008.^[19]

Joorabchian was a transfer adviser at West Ham United until 2009.^[20]