The financially troubled FC Schalke 04 wants to end the cooperation with main sponsor Gazprom because of the Russian attack on Ukraine. A local successor is said to be ready – and the controversial ex-club boss Clemens Tönnies also offers help.
The sporting situation is not the focus when FC Schalke 04 plays in the 2nd Bundesliga at Karlsruher SC on Sunday (1:30 p.m.). Instead, all eyes will initially be on the chests of the royal blue professionals.
The long-standing main sponsor Gazprom is then no longer to be seen there. As a result of the war of aggression against Ukraine, Schalke banned the lettering of the Russian energy company from their jerseys. Instead, the simple lettering “Schalke 04” adorns the shirt chest.
FC Schalke 04 plans separation from Gazprom
Meanwhile, behind the scenes in Gelsenkirchen, feverish plans are being made as to how the club, which is over the ears in debt, can continue in the future without its most generous advertising partner by far. Gazprom is said to be transferring up to ten million euros a year to Schalke – and that’s despite falling into the lower house.
Anyway: how “Spox” reports that a local company is interested in replacing the group, which is closely linked to the Russian head of state Vladimir Putin, at Schalke.
In the event of a separation from Gazprom, the miners are nevertheless threatened with huge losses of income in connection with the main sponsorship, according to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” of 60 to 70 percent.
FC Schalke 04: Clemens Tönnies offers his help
Explosive: The former chairman of the supervisory board, Clemens Tönnies, is once again offering help to his ex-club. “I’m no longer actively involved in the club, but Schalke remains an affair of the heart for me. If I could support somewhere, I would probably do it,” said the 65-year-old meat manufacturer “Image”.
For many Schalke supporters, however, the decision between Gazprom and Tönnies should feel like choosing plague or cholera. The entrepreneur, who had long been extremely controversial in the area, resigned from his positions at the Revierklub in the summer of 2000 after a massive outbreak of corona in his meat plant in Rheda-Wiedenbrück and subsequent protests by S04 supporters against him.
In January 2021, the club management also rejected financial support from Tönnies. At that time, he wanted to help save Schalke from relegation with a sponsorship of millions.