Schalke to Lose €20 Million Gazprom Sponsorship This Summer?
Feb 26, 2021, by Pat
Schalke could lose their extremely lucrative Gazprom sponsorship one year earlier than thought, reports in Germany state. It recently was announced that the deal between the club and Umbro would end ahead of schedule this summer.
According to what was reported by the likes of Sport BILD and Kicker earlier this year, the deal between Schalke and Gazprom, which is set to end in 2022 anyway, is not valid in the case of relegation to the second tier. And since those reports dropped, roughly a month ago, Schalke's chances of survival in the top flight have not really climbed. They sit nine points below the relegation play-off spot with just nine points from 22 matches.
It was initially reported by Sport BILD that the deal between Gazprom and Schalke, which is worth a massive €20 million a season, is not valid for Bundesliga 2. This means that, should relegation be confirmed, the club will not have a main sponsor for next season. Schalke's deal with Gazprom is actually the fifth most valuable in the Bundesliga, behind just Wolfsburg, Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig. Much more successful clubs like Gladbach (€9m) or Leverkusen (€6m) receive far less than S04.
But not all hope is lost for the club, even in the case of relegation. As reported by Kicker a bit later, there exists a slim chance for the deal to continue even in the event of relegation.
As quoted from the contract by the sports magazine, the deal would continue if both parties found an agreement "within 20 working days" from the day that the Bundesliga exit would be confirmed. This would obviously only be possible for a much lower annual payment, causing more financial woes for the club. Schalke's debt was last reported to amount to almost €240 million.
In a similar vein, there are rumors that Schalke could sell off their place in the LEC (League of Legends European Championship) to raise funds.
But as reported by local news site Ruhr24, there could even be some fans who would be happy if Gazprom. The company's close connection tot he Russian government, which owns around 50% of the shares, have long been a cause of unhappiness.
What do you think? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Malmö FF Women 2026 Third Kit Released
Puma and Malmö FF have officially launched the new 2026 third kit for the club's women's team. Following the earlier release of the men's third uniform, the women's iteration offers a refined aesthetic tailored specifically with the club's signature colors.
The Puma Malmö FF Women 2026 third shirt features a cream off-white base paired with bright sky blue accents. It boasts a classic folded polo collar and matching sleeve cuffs in sky blue. All branding elements, including the Puma logo, the club crest, and the main chest sponsor Oatly, are executed in the iconic sky blue hue to create a clean and cohesive look. Unlike the men's 2026 third kit, which utilized deep navy blue detailing over the cream template, the women's jersey stays truer to Malmö's traditional sky blue accenting.
The new strip will be worn throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.
Adidas Club América 26-27 Away Pre-Match Shirt Leaked
Official images of the Club América 26-27 away pre-match jersey have been leaked via kit insider @KamilBerberler, revealing a sleek, retro-inspired design by Adidas.
The shirt features a light grey torso complemented by dark charcoal raglan sleeves and a matching collar. In line with Adidas's heritage-focused aesthetic, the right chest displays the iconic Trefoil logo, while the left chest features the classic interlocking CA monogram crest. On the back, the words Club América are printed in a bold, outlined vintage font across the upper shoulders.
Club América 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - Official Pictured
@KamilBerberler has leaked the official pictures of the new Club America 26-27 away kit. Drawing inspiration from the club's rich history, the shirt incorporates a modern take on the famous V-shaped 'Vittoria' chevron pattern, rendered as a subtle pixelated graphic across the lower body.
The kit will be released very soon.
Puma Al Rams 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
UAE Second Division side Al Rams Club have unveiled their new home and away kits for the 26-27 season, made by Puma. Both jerseys share a unified template highlighted by curved piping framing the front chest and a sharp geometric graphic across the bottom.
The Al Rams Club 26-27 home shirt features a vibrant yellow-orange base trimmed with black on the crew collar, sleeve cuffs, and arched side piping. The design positions the UAE flag on the right chest, a black Puma logo in the center, and the club badge on the left chest, finished with a shattered geometric pattern along the lower half.
Complementing the primary jersey, the Al Rams 26-27 away shirt utilizes a clean white base paired with gold accents. It mirrors the exact design layout of the home kit, replacing the black trim with gold detailing along the collar, sleeve cuffs, piping, and graphic print.
Aston Villa Reveal Special-Edition Hong Kong Kit Customisation
Aston Villa have revealed a special-edition customisation for their 26-27 home kit, prepared for their upcoming pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium on August 7. The special release includes an exclusive chest match patch and unique gold back-of-shirt typography, designed specifically for the Asia tour fixture.
Positioned in the center of the chest, the shield-shaped patch features traditional Asian motifs, including a golden dragon and lion motif alongside five stars and the text "HONG KONG 7 AUG 2026." On the back, the shirts feature gold player numbers and namesets accompanied by Chinese characters positioned above the squad numbers, creating a distinct limited-edition look for the clash in East Asia.
The customisation is available through select retail outlets during Villa's pre-season tour. The match against Bayern Munich in Hong Kong serves as a showcase event during the club's 26-27 pre-season schedule.
FC Epicentr 26-27 Home Kit Released
Ukrainian club FC Epicentr has officially revealed its new home kit for the 26-27 season, made by Italian kit maker Macron. The new shirt stands out with an unconventional salmon pink base shade paired with dark navy accents.
The FC Epicentr 26-27 home shirt features a traditional polo collar and placket in dark navy, complemented by dark navy sleeve cuffs and branding. Running down the front are tonal vertical stripes filled with a subtle distressed pattern. Positioned in the middle of the chest is a round emblem featuring the map of Ukraine in blue and yellow.
Sponsor details appear on the collar and sleeves, leaving the main front region uncluttered. Dark navy player names and numbers complete the back of the shirt.
Gimnàstic de Tarragona 26-27 Third Kit Released
Spanish Primera Federación side Gimnàstic de Tarragona has officially unveiled its new third kit for the 26-27 season. Produced in partnership with adidas and retail provider Fútbol Emotion, the kit was presented under the campaign slogan "El t3rcer color", highlighting black as an important secondary tone in the club's traditional color lineup. Built on the adidas Tiro 26 Competition template, the jersey is predominantly black with contrasting white accents. It features a white collar, white adidas Three Stripes running along the shoulders, and white sponsor logos. A special circular inscription surrounds the crest on the chest to celebrate the club's 140th anniversary since its founding in 1886. Complementing the front design, the upper back of the shirt features the official flag of Tarragona paired with the club motto "FINS AL FINAL". Matching black shorts and socks complete the full 26-27 third kit, which made its on-pitch debut during a pre-season friendly match.