Schalke may reconsider further cooperation with Russia’s Gazprom

The German second division club Schalke 04 from Gelsenkirchen is reconsidering the continuation of its cooperation with its main sponsor, the Russian giant Gazprom, in light of the recent events in eastern Ukraine. How will the management of the Rhineland club resolve this dilemma?

FC Schalke 04, which is currently in 5th place in the 2. Bundesliga, has been sponsored by the German subsidiary of the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom since 2007. The second Bundesliga is not as financially interesting as the top German competition. For this reason, among others, a movable sponsor is existentially important for the financial sustainability of a big club like Schalke 04.

However, after the Russian Federation recognised the separatist areas in eastern Ukraine and sent its troops on a ‘peace mission‘ to the still official state territory of this former Soviet republic, Schalke’s management has to deal with the moral question of whether to continue its partnership with Gazprom. Or whether not to prioritise the financial side of the relationship.

Despite the fact that Germany’s traditional club is currently vitally dependent on one of the world’s largest gas exporters, the Russian Federation’s actions could be seen as a direct contradiction of article eight of the club’s official mission statement: “We Schalke players do not support any form of discrimination or violence.”

Schalke officials told German television ntv.de: “FC Schalke 04 is also following the latest developments in Eastern Europe with great concern, aware of its special role among German sports clubs in this context […]. Those responsible for the club are in constant dialogue with its long-standing main sponsor. There is no doubt that FC Schalke 04 is committed to peace and peaceful coexistence.”

The controversial partnership between Schalke 04 and Gazprom has often been viewed critically by fans throughout its existence. This culminated in Schalke’s last home match against Paderborn (2: 0), when the (for now stalled) Nord Stream 2 project was presented on advertising boards with the slogan “safe energy for Europe“. Given not only the latest developments in the east of the European continent, this advertising campaign is sadly laughable to say the least.

According to marketing expert and Schalke fan Raphael Brinkert, the partnership with the Russian giant was a mistake from the start. Binkert claims that while Gazprom brought money into the club’s coffers as the main sponsor, it also siphoned off overall revenue from other areas such as souvenir sales, PR, hospitality and sponsorship from other entities.

Gazprom is also one of the main partners of the Champions League and UEFA, among others. Hopefully, the situation in Eastern Europe will calm down and the European continent will not suffer the painful consequences of the escalating conflict, not only in sport.

Source:: Schalke 04, ntv.de