The German club’s three-year cooperation with the defense equipment company Rheinmetall AG received criticism before the Champions League final.
The football Champions League season culminated on Saturday at London’s Wembley, when perennially successful Real Madrid defeated the German Borussia Dortmund 2–0 (0–0) in the final.
Before the final, Dortmund pulled off quite a surprise when it announced on Wednesday that it had signed a three-year sponsorship deal with German defense equipment company Rheinmetall AG.
The company manufactures, among other things, Panther KF51 tanks. Rheinmetall has exported its equipment to, for example, Ukraine and Israel.
Chairman of the club Hans-Joachim Watzke reasoned in the club’s announcement cooperation with the “new normal”.
– Security and defense are the cornerstones of our democracy. That’s why we believe it’s the right decision to take a very hard look at how we protect these cornerstones. Especially today, when we see every day how freedom must be defended in Europe, says Watzke.
A journalist based in Germany Johanna Nordlingin according to fans, the news has been mixed.
– Yes, it took away the fans’ joy from the place in the final. Some fans didn’t even watch the entire match. The club, which works for peaceful values, tolerance and community, decides to become a mannequin for a weapons manufacturer. Protests from fan groups can be expected next season as well.
In Nordling’s opinion, announcing the collaboration before the final was a strategic choice.
– In this case, the club can expect the least amount of criticism from the fans, because everyone is happy about the place in the final. In a way, the club management acted maliciously towards the fans and the discussion around the topic was suppressed.