Green Economy Minister and German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck acknowledged that the deal was “unusual” but reflected the reality of a “different, more threatening world” where companies like Rheinmetall have gained prominence as arms suppliers to Ukraine, where Kyiv uses Western munitions to fend off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.
Despite dominating parts of the final on Saturday night and creating clear chances, Dortmund eventually succumbed in the latter stages to the favored Real Madrid, which won its record-extending 15th title. Dani Carvajal scored the opener with a header from a corner in the 74th minute, before Vinícius Júnior doubled the advantage moments later.
The Dortmund-Rheinmetall deal, worth millions of euros over three years, will see the weapons-maker able to post marketing messages across Dortmund’s stadium, though not yet the coveted front-of-jersey spot for a corporate logo.
In a statement announcing the deal on Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said the club was “opening ourselves up to a dialogue” by partnering with an arms-maker but defended the agreement by arguing that in the present reality of war in Europe, “security and defense are fundamental cornerstones of our democracy.”
Many Dortmund fans expressed their dismay at the announcement, noting that the club’s code of ethics included a commitment to a society without violence, as reported by German outlet DW.
A post on Dortmund’s fan blog Schwatzgelb.de slammed the club for its lack of transparency and questioned whether “strengthening national security is not the job of politics rather than a football club.”
