By David Gold
July 10 – Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom will be a UEFA Champions League sponsor for the next three years.
Gazprom will also be an official partner of the UEFA Super Cup, contested annually between the Champions League and Europa League winners.
The company joins leading brands Heineken, UniCredit, Ford, MasterCard and Sony as sponsors of the Champions League.
The deal, agreed until 2015, entrenches Gazprom’s increased presence in football with the firm having already sponsored current Russian Premier League champions Zenit St Petersburg, Germany’s Schalke 04 and Serbian side Red Star Belgrade.
“Gazprom is not only the largest gas company in the world but is also one of those most passionate about football,” Gazprom chief executive Alexey Miller said in a UEFA statement.
UEFA Events chief executive David Taylor added: “I am delighted that Gazprom is to become an official partner of the UEFA Champions League for 2012 to 2015.”
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