DORTMUND, Germany — The chief executive of Borussia Dortmund, Hans-Joachim Watzke, has stood firm in support of the club’s contentious sponsorship arrangement with Rheinmetall, Germany’s leading arms manufacturer, which has drawn significant backlash from the fan base.
The sponsorship was a hot topic during the club’s annual general meeting held on Sunday, where attendees noticed two mock tanks and an informational display opposing the agreement as they entered the venue. Members expressed their discontent through three separate motions, one of which called for the immediate termination of the partnership with Rheinmetall.
Despite the protests, Watzke remained resolute, explaining that the club’s leadership had engaged in thorough discussions before opting to move forward with the deal.
Fans were taken aback when Dortmund unveiled the sponsorship in May, just days prior to their defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, leading to rising protests against this partnership.
Rheinmetall is recognized as the largest producer of artillery ammunition globally and anticipates achieving record sales of around 10 billion euros ($10.6 billion) this year, a situation bolstered by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and other regions.
“I assure you, I spent many sleepless nights at the outset of this process. I understood the complexity of the decision at hand,” Watzke shared with the club’s members. “It was challenging, personally demanding, but I am committed to my choice.”
While he acknowledged the fans’ right to dissent, he emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful and civil discourse on differing opinions regarding the deal.
The agreement with Rheinmetall spans three years and includes extensive advertising opportunities, marketing rights, and event and hospitality provisions within the stadium and surrounding club areas, as was highlighted during its announcement in May.
Many supporters showcased their displeasure during the initial Bundesliga game of the season in August, rallying against the sponsorship deal.
Earlier this year, Rheinmetall announced plans for a new factory at its site in Unterluess, northern Germany, aimed at producing significant quantities of artillery shells, explosives, and potentially missiles and warheads.
In a recent statement, the Dortmund fanzine Schwatzgelb criticized the partnership, stating that “those who create weapons of war do not benefit from peace, but rather from conflict.”
Established in 1889 as “Rheinische Metallwaaren- und Maschinenfabrik Actiengesellschaft,” the Düsseldorf-based company was a major player in the armaments industry during both World Wars and utilized forced labor during World War II.