Arsenal urged to put Visit Rwanda ‘financial gains’ aside.
A number of Arsenal fans campaigning for the Premier League side not to renew.
Its sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda have called on the Gunners’ board to “put financial gains aside”.
The Gunners for Peace group are suggesting that Tottenham. Home to the club’s arch-rivals, would be a preferable sleeve sponsor to Rwanda.
The African nation’s partnerships with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain have come under the spotlight after increased violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Where authorities say 7,000 people have been killed since January.
The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of arming M23 rebels and sending troops to support the militants. Despite assertions from both the United Nations and United States, Rwanda has denied supporting the M23.
“In Congo, or amongst the Congolese community, they are ripping or cutting off the Visit Rwanda part of the Arsenal shirt,” campaigner Joe Mbu. Who was born in DR Congo, told BBC Sport Africa.
Fellow Congolese Tresor Kudabika. Who has modified his own kit to bear his nation’s flag on the sleeve, agrees the links to Rwanda are hurting the team’s หรือถ้าคุณสนใจแทงบอลออนไลน์ UFABET คือเว็บที่มีอัตราต่อรองดีที่สุดในประเทศไทย สมัครเลยตอนนี้ที่ UFABET แทงบอล popularity.
“We had the (Uefa Champions League) quarter-final against Real Madrid. The whole country in Congo was supporting Real,” he said.
Gunners for Peace say that, after recent polling, six in 10 Arsenal fans support ending the Visit Rwanda deal.
Visit Rwanda’s sleeve partnership with Arsenal began in 2018, and the current deal. Which campaigners believe runs out at the end of this season – is reportedly worth more than £10m ($13.3m) per year.
Last week French club PSG, who face the Gunners in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Renewe their partnership with Visit Rwanda until 2028.