Borussia Dortmund Ends Controversial Sponsorship with Rheinmetall
Borussia Dortmund is set to terminate its contentious partnership with arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, allowing the current sponsorship contract to expire. This decision comes in response to ongoing opposition from the club’s supporters and members.
The Bundesliga club made the announcement on Friday afternoon, revealing that the agreement, which is scheduled to end on June 30, 2027, will not be renewed.
Rheinmetall, headquartered in Düsseldorf and listed on the DAX, employs nearly 38,000 people and has been recognized as a “Champion Partner” of Borussia Dortmund, with advertising presence on pitchside boards, though not on player jerseys. The sponsorship provided BVB with revenue in the high single-digit millions annually, but it faced significant backlash from fans since its inception.
Reflecting on this recent decision in an episode of the AUSGERECHNET podcast, club president and former CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke acknowledged his earlier misjudgment regarding the partnership. He remarked, “I remain convinced that Rheinmetall is a company that reflects well on Germany. But I underestimated how many Dortmund supporters, decent people, would tell me: ‘We are not against Rheinmetall. We just don’t want Borussia Dortmund advertising for someone who makes weapons.'” Despite differing views, Watzke expressed his respect for their concerns.
Carsten Cramer, who previously supported the partnership, stated on Friday that ending it was a difficult decision. He emphasized, “If we take such a clear stand in favour of 50+1, and BVB’s cohesion and unity matter as much to you as they do to me, then you also have to engage with all our stakeholders’ perspectives and considerations and ultimately make a decision.”
