The players of FC Barcelona will wear the slogan ‘DR Congo – Hart van Africa’ next season on the back of their training shirts. That reports The Spanish top club Wednesday. The collaboration is part of a four -year contract that FC Barcelona has concluded with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The deal must, the press release reports, contribute to promoting ‘the culture of sport and peace’. According to The Athletic and the BBC The Congo agreement costs around 44 million euros. The Congolese government made previously comparable similarities with AC Milan and AS Monaco. According to the French newspaper Le Monde pays Congo for the three -year -old deal with AC Milan 14 million euros per year.
The deal with Congo calls a lot of criticism. In the east of the country this year large areas have fallen into the hands of rebel movement M23, which stepped on in January. In the first months of the conflict seven thousand deadestimate the United Nations. Almost half a million people became displaced. Two weeks ago a cease-fire was announced.
Lack of money
The domestic football competition has also been suffering from chronic lack of money for years. The 2022-2023 season of the Linafoot, the most important national football competition, even became fully canceled.
Nevertheless, the Congolese government defends the investment. Sports Minister Didier Budimbu called the deal Opposite the BBC An important step in “repositioning Congo” as an attractive destination for tourism and foreign investments. The international image of the country must be polished by it.