Great demand for the new Schalke jersey
Blendi Idrizi with “Schalke 04” lettering on the jersey
Credit: pa/Tim Rehbein/RHR PHOTO
As a reaction to the Ukraine war, FC Schalke 04 ran without the logo of the Russian state-owned company Gazprom on their chests. The approval of the fans is great. The final separation is apparently being discussed behind the scenes.
The logo of the Russian state-owned company Gazprom adorned the jerseys of FC Schalke 04 for 15 years. Now the second division team played in their red away jerseys for the first time without their biggest sponsor on their chests. In the game at Karlsruher SC, Schalke implemented what was already announced on Thursday. In view of the Ukraine war initiated by Russia, the club will appear with a “Schalke 04” lettering until further notice.
The decision was well received by supporters. Before the game, many shared pictures of their jerseys on social networks, on which they had pasted the lettering of the Russian energy company by hand. Due to the great demand, the club has already announced that it will be offering a limited special edition of the new jerseys in the online shop from Monday. Previously, all items with the Gazprom logo were removed.
The team traveled to the game in Karlsruhe in a white “Nickel” team bus. Gazprom lettering was not visible there, nor when the players were warming up. In the guest block, some of the 1,500 fans who had traveled with them showed banners calling for the end of the war. Before the game there was a minute’s silence in memory of the victims.
Meanwhile, several media outlets unanimously report that Schalke managers are discussing how to finally separate from Gazprom. The contract currently runs until 2025, with Schalke receiving nine million euros a year from their main sponsor in the second division.
In the game played at the same time between Hansa Rostock and 1. FC Nürnberg, the Ukrainian Danylo Sikan was in Rostock’s starting XI for the first time. He is currently the only player from Ukraine who plays for a club from the Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2.
