By David Gold
September 26 – Barcelona’s $230 million (£168 million/€194 million) shirt sponsorship deal with Qatar Foundation, the European champions’ first of its kind, has been ratified by the club’s members.
The Catalans, who are owned by members who vote for the club President, agreed the deal with the Qatar Foundation last season.
They replace UNICEF as Barcelona’s shirt sponsor, with the children’s charity’s name appearing below the number on each player’s shirt instead.
The La Liga champions have never had a paid sponsor on their shirt in the club’s illustrious 112 year history.
It represents a key part of President Sandro Rosell’s goal of bringing down the club’s debt, following on from the announcement last week that they had made a loss for 2010-11 despite record revenues.
Just 76 of their members voted “no” to the deal, 36 abstaining, with almost 600 approving the sponsorship.
The agreement has brought criticism from notable figures such as former President Joan Laporta and Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, who was highly successful as both a player and a coach at the club, delivering the most successful period in the club’s history until the present day, including the 1992 European Cup.
Cruyff said of the sponsorship “Socially we’ve made a bad deal, there are other solutions rather than sullying the jersey.”
He also claimed that the club’s motto, “mes que un club” (more than a club), was at threat from the deal.
The club’s total debts though stand at £321 million ($499 million/€371 million), and Barcelona vice-president Javier Faus claimed the situation meant that they had no choice but to agree the deal, adding that there was an opt out clause after the third year.
Barcelona also banned smoking from the Nou Camp following a vote by an overwhelming majority, and their director for the medical and performance area Jordi Mones added that he wanted FIFA to “advocate smoke free football”.
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June 2011: Barcelona to move UNICEF logo to the back of their shirts