No Sponsorship logo
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has been dragged into the debate concerning the club’s decision to accept a shirt sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation. There is a growing opposition to the deal with thousands of Barcelona fans signing an online petition urging the club to revoke the agreement.
Part of the opposition to the shirt sponsorship deal stems from the lack of democracy in Qatar, but there is also a principle at stake, with may fans believing commercial shirt sponsorship is incompatible with the club’s lofty ideals. A few seasons of mid-table obscurity while they chipped away at their €442 million debt would certainly test those principles.
Guardiola, who knows all about the lure of the petrochemical dollar, having played in Qatar for played Qatar’s Al Ahly between 2003 and 2005 and acted as an ambassador for the country’s successful World Cup bid, has defended the regime.
“I can tell you that I lived for two years in Qatar and my family and I received wonderful treatment,” the 40-year-old said.
“Qatar is opening up to the Western world and I know the efforts that the Foundation is putting in to do some really good things. I think that we often don’t understand the Muslim world – nor they us.
“These are difficult times and the board has the obligation to search for alternatives. Qatar is the most open Muslim country and the closest to the Western democracies, but they need time.”
Comments
Post a Comment