After the invasion of Ukraine
Manchester United part ways with Aeroflot
02/25/2022, 3:39 p.m
The Russian state airline Aeroflot has been a partner of the English record champions Manchester United since 2013. Two days after Russia invaded Ukraine and one day after Britain imposed far-reaching sanctions on Russia, the partnership is history.
The Premier League club Manchester United separated from the Russian state Aeroflot as its airline partner two days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, the British government issued a landing ban for Aeroflot in Great Britain as part of far-reaching sanctions against Russia. In response, Russia closed its airspace to British planes.
“In view of the events in Ukraine, we have withdrawn Aeroflot’s sponsorship rights,” said the club from interim coach Ralf Rangnick. “We share the concerns of our fans around the world and we sympathize with those affected.” As part of the partnership, United had flown Aeroflot to their European Cup fixtures in recent years, but had already backed down midweek when they flew to their Champions League away game at Atlético Madrid with Titan Airways, a charter operator.
Aeroflot has been Manchester United’s airline partner since 2013 and, according to the English record champions’ website, has acted as a “strategic advisor” for the club’s trips and as a provider of charter services “whenever appropriate”. The contract, which was extended in 2017, ran until 2023.
The club’s official website said until the contract was terminated that the partnership was “based on shared values such as teamwork, a focus on quality, pride in our heritage and an innovative and forward-looking attitude”. According to its own information, the airline Aeroflot is 57.3 percent owned by the Russian Federation. A further 40.7 percent of the company’s shares are held by institutional and private investors.
Manchester United has always remained silent about the total value of the sponsorship deal with Aeroflot. According to English media reports, the annual payment is said to have amounted to around 30 million pounds, the equivalent of almost 36 million euros. The club’s commercial earnings last year were £232.2m, around €280m.
At a press conference ahead of United’s upcoming game against Watford FC, Ralf Rangnick also commented on the situation in Ukraine. “I think everyone has the same opinion about what is happening there. What is happening there is simply a human catastrophe for everyone involved. The whole situation is terribly sad,” said the interim coach of the traditional club.