Introduction to Bayern Munich’s Decision
For a significant part of its fans and many human rights activists, Bayern Munich had the moral obligation to end its commercial business with Rwanda. The German champions did just that last Friday. But instead of concerns about human rights or the ongoing bloody war in Dr. Congo (DRC) mention, Bayern spoke of a "strategic evolution."
External Pressure Led to Changes
According to Phil Lipperson, expert at sports sponsoring, it was a step forced by fans and media. "I believe that the external pressure led to the changes in the deal, since in Germany I think that the clubs are quite exposed to the criticism of the fan base. Fan and not open to trade transactions," he told DW.
Maintaining a Relationship with Rwanda
Although it will no longer show the branding of the government tourist board "Visit Rwanda", Bayern will still maintain a relationship with the country, which is widely recognized as a financing of M23, a rebel group that has frequently conquered territory in the eastern DRC. This is done by what Bavaria describes as a "committed partnership with a focus on football development in Rwanda by expanding FC Bayern Youth Academy in Kigali."
The Deal and Its Implications
Lipperson argues that the development partnership, more than 5 million euros (5.85 million US dollars) per year, which "Visit Rwanda" has reported to Bayern, has been the key to understanding why great European associations are questionable to nation states with a questionable reputation. "I think it is the strategic expansion to be created in various markets outside of Europe. In recent years we have seen them in Asia – India, Japan, China – and also North and South America, but Africa is still a market that was not realized commercially for the big European clubs," he said.
Human Rights Concerns
For Mohamed Keita, Senior Policy Director for Africa at the Human Rights Foundation, the motifs of Bayern are clear. "I do not believe that human rights or the like are the main driver for it. If the club were actually concerned about human rights, it would not cancel part of the deal with Rwanda, while he signed a new deal with Emirates Airlines two days earlier," Keita told DW.
History Repeated
Keita and Lipperson shared a certain degree of surprise that Germany’s most successful and richest club would sign a contract with another country with a poor human rights balance, in view of the negative PR with Rwanda and an earlier contract with Qatar Airlines, which ended in 2023. Keita also pointed out that internal politics had looked bad for Bavaria because the father of coach Vincent Kompany was born in the Congo and became the first Congolese mayor in Belgium and member of the Belgian parliament.
The Impact of Internal Politics
In a speech at the beginning of this year, Pierre Kompany made his position clear and said that his sympathy was lost in children in the Congo whose parents and siblings were dead, buried or "buried in holes". This is the day "We delete beliefs such as" visit Rwanda "", he continued with tears in his eyes when the parliament condemned an application for Rwanda’s actions in the conflict, which is currently in a restless ceasefire mediated in the USA. "It is a completely crazy situation. It is as if a club ‘visit to Russia’ has a trainer who is half-Ukrainian. This is the kind of situation in which the club put its manager," said Keita.
Can Bavaria Keep Up with the Super Rich?
While Bavaria have to find a considerable and well-deserved financial advantage over the remains of the Bundesliga clubs, the German football ownership law, the club members have to keep the overall mood control, and the active fan scene that is generally anti-commercial and globalized globalization, Bavaria Bavaria such as European clubs can be used with English clubs. in Europe, in which, such as Europeans, such as Europeans, such as Europeans, or you, such as Europeans, or you, such as Europe, or state, or state. are in possession of Qatar.
Other Clubs with Questionable Offers
Bavaria are not alone if they enter questionable offers. At the beginning of this week, Barcelona announced a partnership with Dr. Congo, while Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and PSG still have commercial offers with Rwanda. None of the last three clubs replied to DW questions whether Bayern’s decision had to rethink her own positions. In view of the fact that the recent world championships in Russia and Qatar were organized and that the game’s governors, FIFA, in front of the US President Donald Trump before the 2026 and Saudi Arabia before 2034, should be surprising.
Conclusion
For many, the wing of the Rwandas deal by Bayern is a welcome step, but it is difficult to avoid the impression that this has arisen due to pressure and PR from the outside and not any question of morality.
