Arsenal Football Club has announced the conclusion of its eight-year sleeve sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda, Sky Sports reports. The partnership, which began in 2015, was mutually agreed to end at the close of the current season.
Visit Rwanda became Arsenal’s first official sleeve partner, but the deal drew criticism from segments of the fanbase. In April, a group of supporters launched a campaign against the partnership, calling for it to be scrapped ahead of the current season.
As part of the protest, the group erected a satirical ‘Visit Tottenham’ billboard outside the Emirates Stadium before a home match against Crystal Palace.
The club said the decision to end the partnership reflects a mutual agreement with the Rwanda Development Board, allowing both parties to explore new opportunities going forward.
In a statement on Wednesday, Arsenal’s chief executive Richard Garlick highlighted the successes achieved during the partnership and thanked the board for its support. He emphasised that the mutual agreement to end the deal allows both parties to pursue new opportunities moving forward.
“Our first-ever sleeve partnership with Visit Rwanda has been a significant journey,” said Garlick’s statement. “Over many years, we’ve worked together to raise global awareness of Rwanda’s tourism and conservation efforts and built many new connections with our supporters across Africa.
“The commitment and support of Visit Rwanda throughout our partnership has played an important role in driving forward our ambitions – helping us invest in our long-term vision to win major trophies, in a financially sustainable way. We thank the Rwanda Development Board for their partnership and what we’ve delivered together.”
