Gelsenkirchen (dpa) – Schalke’s CEO Bernd Schröder has reacted to the much-noticed statement by Hans-Joachim Watzke on dealing with the club’s main sponsor Gazprom.
“Bernd Schröder called Aki Watzke today – it was a good conversation. We won’t say anything about the content for the time being, so I ask for your patience,” said the second division soccer team at the request of the German Press Agency.
Watzke, chairman of the supervisory board of the German Football League (DFL) and managing director of Borussia Dortmund, had brought financial help for Schalke into play should the club separate from its controversial Russian main sponsor Gazprom. “First of all, I’m very happy that Schalke showed their attitude. I hope that it will continue,” said Watzke on the ZDF “Sportstudio”. “And if the solidarity of the other clubs in Germany is also required to lead them out of this situation reasonably well, then we have to discuss how we can do it.”
Jerseys without print
The Revierclub’s contract with Gazprom runs until 2025. According to reports, it is worth eight to ten million euros in the second division and up to 20 million euros in the Bundesliga. The day before, Schalke had worn jerseys without the imprint of their sponsor in the 1-1 draw in Karlsruhe. Fan articles with the Gazprom logo are also no longer available in the fan shop.
In order to clear the way for a new sponsor, FC Schalke would have to terminate the contract with Gazprom. According to the lawyer Rainer Cherkeh (Hanover), who specializes in sports law, this dismissal would “withstand judicial review”. “In the case of a sponsorship contract, either party can terminate the agreement without observing a period of notice if there is an important reason. The current dramatic development should justify such an extraordinary right of termination for Schalke 04, mainly because the Russian Federation sees the Gazprom group as largest shareholder controls,” Cherkeh said.