Schalke 04 is not in a really easy situation at the moment…
The Russian state and natural gas production company Gazprom has been the main sponsor of Schalke 04 since 2007 (contract until 2025) and pays nine million euros a year in the second division. If he were to return to the Bundesliga, it would be 15 million euros plus a promotion bonus of 3 million euros.
A lot of money for the financially troubled traditional club. But on Monday evening President Vladimir Putin (69) sent troops to eastern Ukraine. The Russian invasion is on!
Discussions and calls for Schalke to end the partnership grew louder. The club explained: “FC Schalke 04 is also following the latest developments in Eastern Europe with great concern. In this context, the club is aware of its special role among German sports clubs: With Gazprom Germania, a German subsidiary of the Russian state energy company Gazprom, S04 has had a reliable partner and a relevant gas supplier from the Federal Republic of Germany at its side for 15 years now. “
Spicy coincidence: Just one day earlier, on Monday afternoon, Schalke again tweeted their special jersey offer for fans. Sale in the fan shop: Schalke sells off the Putin jerseys! The campaign has been running for several weeks, now the renewed application.
Instead of 84.95 euros, the home, away, alternate and goalkeeper jerseys are now available for adults for 59 euros each. The children’s jerseys and other products have also been reduced.
Many fans react online with a lack of understanding about the time. “Serious. That’s really bad timing. And stop sponsoring with Gazprom now! If you need help with your arguments, take a look at our mission statement” or “Timing on fleek people. Timing”. That’s the tenor.
However: the greatly reduced sale of current jerseys in the current time is not uncommon. Many clubs rely on spring sales to sell a large number of jerseys again before the new jersey is presented next summer. For example, league competitor Fortuna Düsseldorf is currently offering 20 percent on the current jerseys, Bundesliga club Gladbach have reduced the shirts for the current season from 84.95 euros to 50 or 40 euros.
In addition, at Schalke, the contract with outfitter Umbro expires in the summer and will not be extended. In the coming season, Adidas will again equip royal blue. The German sporting goods company has signed a five-year contract with Schalke.
Whether the club will draw consequences from the Ukraine invasion is still open. “Those responsible for the club are in constant dialogue with the long-standing main sponsor. For FC Schalke 04 there is no question that the club is committed to peace and peaceful coexistence, the members have laid down non-violence in the mission statement (§8): ‘We Schalke players do not emit any discrimination or violence.’ FC Schalke 04 will monitor further developments, assess them and make a strong appeal for peace – to protect those affected by the crisis.”
Note on our own behalf: The “BILD Shop” also sold Schalke jerseys with a Gazprom imprint until Wednesday morning, but has since removed them from the range.
