FC Schalke remove Gazprom branding from jerseys

Russian energy giants future with German club unclearThe Russian energy giant’s future with the German club remains unclear.

2. Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 have announced that they will be removing the logo of their sponsor, Russian energy firm Gazprom from their jerseys. The German club made the call following Russia’s invasion 2. Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 have announced that they will be removing the logo of their main sponsor, Russian energy firm Gazprom, from their jerseys. The German club have made the call following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The club put out a statement which read:

“Following recent developments, FC Schalke 04 have decided to remove the logo of main sponsor GAZPROM from the club’s shirts. It will be replaced by lettering reading ‘Schalke 04’ instead.”

Schalke have also added that Matthias Warnig, the board’s representative of Gazprom, has stepped down from his position with immediate effect.

Gazprom had been a club sponsor and the main partner to Schalke since 2006, having even renewed its partnership in 2021 in a deal reported to be worth €10 million per year.

Aside from Schalke, Gazprom is also a prominent UEFA Champions League sponsor, with UEFA set to end its partnership with the former. Gazprom is one of the eight major global sponsors and only renewed its partnership with UEFA last year. 

The Russian firm is also a current sponsor of the EURO 2024 and the UEFA Nations League Final 2023. Gazprom’s partnership with UEFA is reportedly worth US$45 million per year.  

UEFA has also moved the 2022 UEFA Champions League final from St. Petersburg in Russia to Paris, France, while English club Manchester United have also ended a nine-year partnership with their Official Carrier Aeroflot in light of the recent events.