By David Gold
March 15 – Gazprom Neft has sealed a new $20 million (£12.7 million/€15 million) sponsorship deal with the Russian Premier League champions Zenit St Petersburg.
Gazprom Neft’s parent company, Gazprom, own Zenit and the deal will run through to the end of this year, according to RIA Novosti.
It will see Zenit advertise Gazprom Neft, Russia’s fifth largest oil company, during their Premier League and Russian Cup matches.
Gazprom bought Zenit in 2005 and have invested heavily in the club since, helping them to win the UEFA Cup, now known as the Europa League, in 2008.
They also won the Russian Premier League in both 2007 and 2010, and lead during the current season.
Gazprom, who have been linked to a sponsorship deal with German giants Bayern Munich, also sponsor their league rivals Schalke 04, and have been heavily involved with the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
The state controlled oil giant also helped to bail out struggling Russian side Tom Tomsk earlier this year.
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