Man Utd ready to end Russian airline Aeroflot sponsorship deal after Ukraine attack
2 min readRussian attack on Ukraine could mark the end of Aeroflot sponsorship deal worth £40m to Manchester United.
Manchester United has been sponsored by Aeroflot since 2013, but the Old Trafford club has decided not to renew the deal after Russia launched war on Ukraine on Thursday morning.
As a result of the developing crisis in Ukraine, Manchester United is set to discontinue their sponsorship relationship with the Russian carrier Aeroflot.
Following Russia’s invasion of its neighboring country, the English giants are desperate to disassociate themselves from the company.
Since 2013, Aeroflot has been one of United’s primary sponsors.
United extended the contract in 2017 for roughly £40 million.
The present contract is slated to expire in the summer of 2023, and United’s new CEO Richard Arnold has no plans to extend it.
Ralf Rangnick and his team travelled to Spain on Titan this week for their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.
It means United will have to strike an agreement with a another airline to become the club’s official carriers, with Qatar Airways being one option.
Aeroflot is Russia’s national airline, serving 146 locations in 52 countries.
United, on the other hand, is well aware of the potential damage to the club’s image and economic appeal if it continues to be identified with Aeroflot.
And If the United States government decide to issue sanctions against Russian companies, including banning Aeroflot from entering the country, it would leave United’s American owners the Glazers facing serious consequences unless the agreement with the airline is ended.
Aeroflot flew United’s stars and officials around the world as well as provided strategic advice on travel.
United’s nine year association with them was worth almost £100m in total.
Earlier this week it was revealed how UEFA could be forced to switch the venue of this season’s Champions League Final from St Petersburg to an alternative city, due to the increasing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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