Armsmaker's sponsorship of soccer club BVB shows new reality, says German minister

1&1 AG

29/05/2024 13:10

BERLIN, May 29 (Reuters) - German Economy Minister
Robert Habeck said on Wednesday that armsmaker Rheinmetall's
 RHMG.DE  sponsorship of soccer club Borussia Dortmund (BVB)
 BVB.DE  was an unusual move which "shows where we stand". 
    Ignoring the arms industry is no longer tenable in Germany
due to the new reality, Habeck, also vice-chancellor, said after
a government meeting. 
    "We know and unfortunately have to admit that we are in a
different, more threatening world," he said.
    Rheinmetall's logo will replace that of telecom provider 1&1
 1U1.DE  as the armsmaker entered a three-year multi-million
sponsorship agreement with BVB on Tuesday.
    Borussia Dortmund is an eight-time German league champion
who is due to face off against Spain's Real Madrid in the UEFA
Champions League Finals on Saturday.  
    Rheinmetall is Germany's largest defence firm and an
important supplier of military gear and shells to Ukraine, whose
market share has quadrupled since Russia invaded the country in
2022.      

 (Reporting by Andrey Sychev and Markus Wacket; Editing by
Madeline Chambers)
 ((andrey.sychev@thomsonreuters.com;))