German newspaper Bild have faced accusations of hypocrisy after calling for FC Schalke to ‘cover up’ their sponsorship with Russian energy giant Gazprom
Bild, the German tabloid newspaper, has been hit with accusations of hypocrisy after making an editorial announcement calling for a football team’s sponsorship by the Russian gas company Gazprom to be replaced with a slogan reading ‘Freedom for Ukraine’ – only for the publication to have Gazprom-branded shirts for public sale in their online store.
FC Schalke, who compete in the second tier of German football, have had Gazprom as a primary sponsor on their shirts since 2017, saying on Tuesday that the energy giant has been a “reliable partner” for 15 years, while also being a supplier of natural gas to the German market.
However, after it emerged this week that UEFA have come under external pressure due to their own Gazprom sponsorship in the wake of escalating tensions with Ukraine, the German club released a statement to say that they are in “dialogue” with their commercial partner.
German newspaper BILD have covered up pictures of Schalke's shirt sponsor Gazprom (the Russian company who've been partners since 2007) with the words “Freedom for Ukraine”. pic.twitter.com/UZ5o1e7TBj
— Phil Delves (@phildelves) February 23, 2022
“Those responsible for the club are in constant dialogue with the long-standing main sponsor,” the club said in a statement. They added that they are “committed to peace and peaceful coexistence.”
Bild, though, which is one of Germany’s most read newspapers, said in an editorial penned by their sports director Walter M. Straten that it was difficult to watch the Gazprom-sponsored Champions League games and their ensuing advertisements while the specter of conflict looms.