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.
FC Barcelona 27-28 Home Kit Leaked - 2 Real Images
Footy Headlines can leak two real images of the new Barcelona 27-28 home kit. However, these still appear to be products created based on a previous concept. They have an accuracy of about 80% and will differ slightly from the final version.
Deportivo Cali 1965 First Title Commemorative Kits Released
Colombian club Deportivo Cali and their technical sponsor Hillside have launched a special-edition capsule celebrating the club's historic first league championship won in 1965. The release consists of two retro-inspired jerseys — one in green and another in white — that pay tribute to the monumental title won over six decades ago.
Both shirts embrace a classic mid-60s aesthetic, anchored by an open polo-style collar. The green shirt features a contrasting white collar and cuffs, complemented by a tonal sublimated pattern of stripes, pennants, and historic club insignia across the fabric. In turn, the white version offers a clean, elegant look highlighted by rich emerald green trim. On the collar ribbing, knit detailing spells out "19 CAMPEÓN 65" in tribute to the landmark campaign.
Each jersey is adorned with a vintage Deportivo Cali crest topped by a single embroidered golden star representing that maiden triumph. Additional commemorative touches include a retro script Hillside graphic at the lower back and a stitched authentic crest patch near the hem displaying "Cali - Un Amor para toda la Vida 1912". The limited-edition pieces are delivered in custom collector's packaging alongside a certificate of authenticity.
BG Pathum United 26-27 20th Anniversary Kit Released
Thai League side BG Pathum United have officially released a special 20th anniversary kit for the 26-27 season. Produced by Nike and launched under the club's "Side by Side" campaign, the commemorative shirt celebrates two decades since the team was originally founded in 2006 as Bangkok Glass FC, reviving the historic green color from the club's early years.
The Nike BGPU 26-27 20th anniversary shirt combines a vibrant green base with contrasting black accents on the crew neck collar and sleeve cuffs, flanked by white side panels. It features clean monochrome white applications throughout, including the club crest, the Nike Swoosh, and the front sponsor. Two variations of the jersey are available: the domestic Thai League version featuring Leo branding on the chest, and an AFC Champions League Two version with Singha Corporation and a Thai flag detail on the sleeve.
White shorts and white socks complete the throwback look. The BG Pathum United 26-27 20th anniversary kit is now on sale through the club's official online shop and at the BGPU Mega Store, priced at 999 THB for the standalone jersey. The club has also made a limited "Side by Side" collector's boxset available for 2,000 THB, containing two shirts, two commemorative scarves, and a sticker sheet.
