In the dispute over an advertising contract with the armaments company Rheinmetall, Borussia Dortmund’s managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke would like to hear the opinions of all BVB members. At the general meeting of shareholders on Monday in the Westfalenhalle, Watzke praised what he considered to be a worthy discussion on the topic the day before at the meeting of the association’s members. The majority of the members present had spoken out against the deal with Rheinmetall. Watzke described the vote as a pointer, and of course he accepted this democratic decision. However, at his last general meeting, the managing director calculated that only 0.25 percent of the 215,000 members voted against the partnership with Rheinmetall at the general meeting. The members’ vote is not binding for the BVB management. “I would like us to find out in full what the members think about it. We need a valid statement,” said Watzke, who is leaving the management this year. The partnership between Borussia Dortmund and Rheinmetall includes the use of high-reach advertising space, marketing rights as well as event and hospitality offers in the stadium and on the club premises. After the deal was announced, there was criticism from pacifists, human rights organizations and some fans. Rheinmetall is Germany’s largest arms company, which is experiencing strong growth against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the general arms boom.
BVB is “more than a football club with great success,” says Wilfried Harthan, one of the applicants
The members spoke out clearly against the controversial sponsorship at the meeting. At the meeting on Sunday, a majority approved a motion to end the partnership as quickly as possible. 855 of the 1205 members present took part in the vote, there were 556 yes votes, 247 no votes and 52 abstentions. There was great applause in the Westfalenhalle for this result. The members presented several similar proposals, which were voted on step by step.
BVB is “more than a football club with great success,” said Wilfried Harthan, one of the applicants: “The advertising deal with Rheinmetall doesn’t fit in with that. It is not compatible with our basic code of values.” It is “not BVB’s job to promote social acceptance of a defense company.” Managing director Watzke had previously defended the partnership with Rheinmetall, which the club had informed about in the summer. However, he also understands concerns about dealing with these, which is important in a democratically run club. When asked by a member, Watzke gave economic arguments. “For an advertising board and a sponsorship board it is an exorbitantly high amount. We have to make money too.”
#Rheinmetall #BVB #Watzke #members #opinions
