Borussia Dortmund supporters have protested the club’s controversial sponsorship agreement with German weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall.
The club announced the three-year deal this week with the company’s logo displayed on Dortmund products ahead of the Champions League final.
The branding will also be placed on advertising boards around the club’s Signal Iduna Park stadium and during press conferences – but will not appear on shirts.
It marked the first time that a Bundesliga side had agreed a sponsorship with a German defence firm and the move sparked anger among the club’s loyal fanbase.
Thousands of Dortmund supporters secured seats at Wembley for their side’s showdown against Real Madrid and opted to take a stand against the deal.
Borussia Dortmund supporters protested the club’s deal with a weapons manufacturer
A large banner was unfurled in the Dortmund end during the Champions League final
Two large banners were unfurled at the front of one of Wembley’s stands and featured two conjoined messages written in German and English.
The eye-catching sign read: ‘Rheinmetall: using football to create a cleaner image? Protecting BVB [Dortmund] from sportswashing is our mission!’
Rheinmetall are based in Dusseldorf – a city 70km away from Dortmund – and are believed to be the largest ammunition manufacturer in Europe.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said: ‘Security and defence are fundamental cornerstones of our democracy. Especially today, when we see every day how freedom must be defended in Europe. We should deal with this new (normal).’
Rheinmetall’s top executive Armin Papperger said the company, which is worth almost 4billion euros, shares ‘similar attitudes, ambitions and origins’ as Dortmund.
Rheinmetall are the largest arms company in Europe (pictured: one of the firm’s factories)
Dortmund’s official supporters’ group confirmed it had held talks with the club prior to the announcement and expressed their opposition to the sponsorship.
The German Peace Society, a pacifist group fronted by Dortmund supporter Michael Schulze von Glasser – has called on the club to terminate the deal.
‘I am very shocked. I would never have expected that BVB would even consider entering into a partnership with an arms company,’ Schulze von Glasser said.
He added he was offended both ‘as a Dortmund fan and peace activist’.
Gary Lineker also expressed his disapproval and revealed the deal had led him to decide to support Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
