The problems surrounding the main sponsor Gazprom could have even greater impact on the Royal Blues – and lead to a comeback of a controversial figure. Clemens Tönnies has now commented on the situation.
In the game on Saturday afternoon at Karlsruher SC, FC Schalke 04 no longer wore the lettering of main sponsor Gazprom on their jerseys – in the course of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the second division team put their long-standing partnership with the company to the test. The trend seems clear: Schalke wants to finally cut the connection to the donor.
However, this could lead to financial losses for S04, at least in the short term, until new sponsors are found. The “Bild” has now brought the return of a controversial figure into play for the transitional period: Will Clemens Tönnies return to the district club? Tönnies was the chairman of the club’s supervisory board from 2001 to 2020 and had also won Gazprom as a sponsor in 2007. Almost two years ago, Tönnies withdrew from the club after various misconduct and a corona outbreak in one of his meat production facilities.
So is a comeback actually possible? “I’m no longer actively involved in the club, but Schalke remains a matter close to my heart,” quoted the “Bild” the 65-year-old. And further: “If I could support somewhere, I would probably do it.”
As a reminder, Tönnies had excellent relations with Gazprom for years and also had a friendly relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One is always happy when one sees one another, Tönnies once explained. So whether this solution would be the better one will certainly be hotly debated in the club.