New Delhi: Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has defended his club’s controversial deal with Germany’s biggest arms manufacturer after backlash from the fans. The Rheinmetall deal was one of the biggest agenda at the club’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday.
After huge public protests, Dortmund members voted against the deal, with 556 out of 855 voting to terminate it as soon as possible. Watzke, however, maintained that the top management had discussed the deal extensively before proceeding with it.
Back in May this year, the club had announced the deal with Rheinmetall just three days before Dortmund lost to Real Madrid in Champions League final. It had surprised everyone who followed Dortmund and had become a major issue. Watzke noted that he was worried about the decision but maintained that he stood by it.
The CEO, who is set to step down from his role at Borussia, acknowledged that fans have the right to express their opinion and even refuse the deal. Dortmund’s three-year deal with Rheinmetall includes placement of ” wide-reaching ” advertising as well as “marketing rights and event and hospitality arrangements” in the club grounds and stadium.
Borussia Dortmund fans have protested the Rheinmetall sponsorship deal at the annual general meeting of BVB
Once again, bravo BVB fans. 👏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/4AjC7PxyKO
— 𝙁𝙎 🇵🇸 (@Fs_FTBL) November 24, 2024
Fans protested during the team’s first game of the Bundesliga season in August and even before the AGM as members arrived to attend the meeting. Rheinmetall was founded in 1889 and is the world’s largest manufacturer of artillery ammunition. They are expecting to make a record sale of €10 billion this year. The recent conflicts in Ukraine have helped their trade.
In both World Wars, they were the largest supplier of arms and were even accused of using forced labour during World War II. The company, at the start of the year, announced the construction of a new factory at an existing site in Northern Germany village of Unterluess. The factory is reportedly to have a production capacity 1,900 tons of explosives, of 200,000 artillery shells and other war machinery.
After facing backlash, members of Borussia Dortmund in annual meeting vote in favour of dissolving sponsorship deal with Rheinmetall. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
