Lev Leviev Gets Sporty with Soccer Team Purchase
December 07, 05 by IDEX Online Staff Reporter
Billionaire diamond dealer Lev Leviev has added an Israeli soccer team, Hapoel Tel Aviv, to his expanding portfolio of assets. Only last month he was granted a license to build and operate Israel’s first private prison. With his latest purchase, Leviev joins Arkadi Gaydamak, another Russian billionaire involved in the diamond industry, who also owns an Israeli soccer team.
After a couple of weeks of rumors that Russia’s oligarch Roman Abramovich, who owns British Premier League team Chelsea FC, might buy the team, the Ha’aretz daily newspaper this morning revealed that Leviev has taken on full ownership of the club.
According to the newspaper, the deal was sealed during a meeting Sunday at a CPA’s office in Tel Aviv. Together with 100 percent ownership of the club, Leviev will also take on its debt, estimated at around NIS 50 million ($10.81 million).
In Israel, where the tensions and rivalry between the former business partners are often discussed in the press, some were quick to ask if Leviev’s latest acquisition has anything to do with the fact that Gaydamak has recently purchased Betar Jerusalem and successfully turned it around.
Hapoel Tel Aviv is currently second in Israel’s Premier League, trailing 10 points behind champion Maccabi Haifa.
In addition to his diamond business, Leviev has a controlling interest in the Africa Israel Group.
