Sturm Graz Tape Over City Name on Crest in Europa League Protest
SK Sturm Graz staged an unusual protest during their UEFA Europa League clash away against AFC Bournemouth on Thursday night. As the squad emerged from the tunnel for the pre-match walk-on, players wore their official training jackets with a strip of white tape deliberately covering the word "Graz" on the club crest.
The demonstration comes in response to severe budget cuts announced by the city administration and municipal utility Holding Graz GmbH, which plans to end all professional sports sponsorships from 2027 onward. The withdrawal is expected to cost Sturm Graz around €500,000 annually, while also hitting local football rivals Grazer AK (€300,000) and ice hockey champions Graz99ers (€200,000). The move sparked coordinated outrage across the city's sporting landscape, with the Graz99ers similarly dropping "Graz" from their name and branding over the weekend.
Ahead of kick-off in England, Sturm issued a statement under the heading "No sports sponsoring, no respect, no appreciation," arguing that the club acts as a major international ambassador while investing heavily in youth academies, women's football, and special-needs teams.
Club president Christian Jauk criticized local officials for abandoning top-level athletics, noting that the international stage of a European fixture against Premier League opposition was chosen intentionally to maximize visibility for their cause.
