The Gunners' Debated Sponsorship Deal with Visit Rwanda Will Conclude Next Year
Arsenal Football Club has declared that its much-debated sponsorship arrangement with Visit Rwanda will terminate in June of next year.
Background and Scrutiny
The partnership, estimated to cost around ten million pounds each year, was initiated six years ago and has since been heavily criticized.
Such scrutiny arises from accusations of Rwandan assistance for the M23 rebel group in continuing hostilities in the eastern region of the bordering Congo.
In February, Arsenal was criticized for delivering an "outrageous" snub to the authorities in Congo by declining to meet with Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner to discuss the partnership.
Deal Composition and Aims
Visit Rwanda operates as a branch of the Rwanda Development Board, which is a government department.
Many speculate that Arsenal committed to and upheld this partnership chiefly to increase their following across the continent.
Nonetheless, the deal has now ended after both parties “jointly decided” to go their separate ways.
“Together, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have exceeded the initial objectives of the partnership – promoting conservation and sustainable tourism, motivating countless fans to explore Rwanda, and creating a lasting foundation for visitor increase,” read an Gunners' release.
The announcement added that the partnership has also assisted Rwanda's goal of becoming an global sports center in Africa and welcome more worldwide tournaments while executing grassroots football initiatives that have helped hundreds of young players and coaches enhance their abilities and encourage more involvement in athletics nationwide.
Leadership View and Supporter Response
Richard Garlick, Arsenal's chief executive officer, portrayed the arrangement as a “major expedition” and claimed it had been “advancing” the club's ambitions.
However, this perspective was not shared by a segment of the club's followers, with the campaign group Gunners Supporting Peace demonstrating outside the Emirates Stadium during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against the French club in late April.
Protesters displayed a placard declaring “End the Rwanda Deal” and provided wristbands to cover up the Rwanda branding on jerseys.
Industry Perspective and Fellow Clubs
During that period, the French champions continued their sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda for several more years.
Meanwhile, the Madrid-based team entered a new agreement for the equivalent timeframe that has caused the logo being carried on the Spanish club's first-team and women's team jerseys.
