FC Bayern’s top scorer is ending the collaboration with a controversial advertising partner – and is thus driving his own development forward. That’s right – now others have to follow suit.
The decision was as safe as one of his degrees in front of the goal: Robert Lewandowski has terminated the sponsorship contract with the technology group Huawei. With immediate effect. The Chinese company is said to have helped Russia defend against hacker attacks during the Ukraine war. What a sign from the goalscorer from FC Bayern Munich. And that at a time when unselfishness, altruism and moral conscience have been terms for years that are not necessarily associated with professional footballers worth millions. The currently probably best striker on this planet forgoes many millions of euros to set an example.
Even more: A world footballer grows into a personality in front of everyone. Reflective, conscientious, principled. Someone who thinks – not only about himself or the already bulging wallet, but about his fellow human beings, about war and peace.
In the days before, the 33-year-old had spoken out about the frightening developments and emphasized: “We must not accept what is happening there and must support Ukraine.” Lewandowski strongly supported the Polish national team’s refusal to play the planned World Cup playoff game on Russian soil: “I can’t imagine playing against Russia’s team if the armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we cannot pretend that nothing is happening.”
FC Bayern’s flagship player thus sets a powerful counterpoint to other sports greats, many of whom – too many – remain silent. Unforgotten how in 2019 NBA stars like LeBron James or James Harden, who were worth millions, avoided any criticism of the inhuman regime in China during the Hong Kong crisis – also thinking about their own sponsors. “We love China,” asserted Harden – after a snappy comment by a club manager on how the Chinese were dealing with the special administrative zone, even the TV contract for the league in China, which was worth several billion, was about to be terminated. At the same time, protests by Hong Kongers for democracy and freedom were bludgeoned with all their might.
Lewandowski, however, is now proving, in the greatest crisis not only in Europe but in the world for over 70 years, foresight – and: a conscience. One would like to say to many others: take an example from him!