Bayern Munich deny any intention of “sportwashing” in its recent sponsorship deal with Rwanda, despite another controversial deal which sparked criticism among many fans.
In August, the Bavarian club announced a new five-year partnership with Rwanda aimed at promoting football and local tourism, replacing the previous sponsorship with Qatar, a source of discontent among supporters during matches and assembly annual general in 2021. Rwanda, like Qatar, is the subject of accusations of human rights abuses. Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen rejects the idea that the club participates in “sportwashing”, a method used by some political regimes to improve their international image and distract from allegations of abuse.
“I don’t see what we are doing in Rwanda as sportwashing,” Dreesen said at the last meeting of the European Club Association in Berlin. “We have made it clear that we want to support football there, the development of football. I can’t understand how Rwanda is investing money here to improve its image through sportwashing, so to speak.”
At least 43 young football talents have been selected to start with the soon-to-be-launched FC Bayern Munich Academy in Rwanda, local media reported. The Bayern Munich Academy is part of the five-year partnership between the German football giants and Visit Rwanda. “It is expected to revolutionize the development of football in Rwanda by providing young people with a unique opportunity to hone their talent and reach new heights in the sport,” adds The News Times.
Bayern’s Rwanda deal was criticized by Wenzel Michalski of Human Rights Watch as a “very, very bad choice”, while Nick McGeehan of FairSquare Projects said he was surprised Bayern replaced a controversial deal by another.
“Bayern should have heeded the concerns of its supporters and avoided getting involved again in campaigns aimed at cleaning up the reputation of abusive governments,” McGeehan told the Associated Press. “The horrific actions of Rwandan-backed militias in the DRC this year suggest that Bayern are more than happy to step out of the frying pan and into the fire. »
Bayern fan Christian Nandelstädt told Deutsche Welle that further protests can be expected in the southern curve of the Bayern stadium. Alex Salzweger of the Bayern fans group Club No. 12, which had organized workshops highlighting human rights abuses in Qatar, told the AP that members would first consult experts to learn more about Rwanda before deciding on any action.
Bayern wants to be “part of Rwanda’s development”
The Rwandan government has also been criticized for spending on such deals instead of investing more in the country, which are widely seen as efforts to cover up a human rights record marked by suspicious deaths and sometimes through the violent repression of opposition voices.
The Rwandan government is criticized for investing in sponsorship deals rather than in the country, possibly to hide human rights abuses. Clare Akamanzi of the Rwanda Development Board rejects the accusations as counterproductive. She told The East African newspaper earlier this year that it was “counterproductive and cynical” to “undermine investment in a developing country’s economy.”
Bayern Munich say their partnership with Rwanda will bring benefits to the country, comparing this to their previous engagement with Qatar to positively influence the latter. However, concerns remain about the use of such agreements to improve the image of governments accused of abuses.
“Rwanda wants to attract more tourists to the country, create economic wealth, and thus fight poverty. I am also aware of the accusations and criticism that we take money for sponsorship. Yes, we receive some, we are paid in this partnership. But we give something in return by dealing with it openly, by sending coaches there, by building a youth academy, and so on,” assumed the FCB CEO.
“We want to be part of Rwanda’s development and be more involved in Africa, which we consider to be a continent of opportunities,” he added.
Text analysis:
The text is well structured with an introduction that presents the topic of the article and a conclusion that summarizes the key points. The main information is clearly laid out, including the partnership between Bayern Munich and Rwanda, as well as the controversies and criticisms related to this agreement. Statements from Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen are also mentioned to give his views on the matter.
The writing style is clear and precise, allowing the reader to easily understand the information presented. Quotes add a touch of authenticity and credibility to the article.
The writing is neutral and objective, presenting different opinions and points of view on the subject. This allows the reader to form their own opinion on the matter.
However, to improve the text, it would be interesting to further explore the arguments and criticisms made by opponents of the Bayern-Rwanda partnership. For example, by providing concrete examples of the actions of militias supported by Rwanda in the DRC, we could give more weight to this criticism. Furthermore, it would be useful to add information on the concrete benefits that the partnership with Bayern will bring to Rwanda, in terms of the development of football and the tourism industry.
In summary, the article clearly and objectively addresses the topic of the controversial partnership between Bayern Munich and Rwanda, providing various viewpoints on the matter. However, it could benefit from deepening the arguments and presenting the benefits of the partnership in more detail.