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Manchester United drop Aerflot, stop short of condemning invasion

Manchester United have ended their sponsorship with Aeroflot.  The Russian airline has been a sp...



Manchester United have ended their sponsorship with Aeroflot. 

The Russian airline has been a sponsor of the Premier League giants since 2013, but finds itself banned from operating in the UK due to sanctions imposed on Russia by the British government.

In a brief statement, United said they were withdrawing Aeroflot's "sponsorship rights", but the club stopped short of condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The softer language they opted for read, "In light of events in Ukraine... We share the concerns of our fans around the world and extend our sympathies to those affected.”

United renewed their Aeroflot deal in 2017, worth £40million (€47.5m), and the contract was due to expire in 2023.

A season ticket holder wrote to the club on Friday morning, seeking clarification on United's Aeroflot deal.

In response - before the deal termination - they wrote, "Our commercial partnership agreements are between Manchester United and the brands involved, not with any individual owner or related parties.

"In relation to the specific situation referred to in your email, we hope you can understand that, as a football club with fans from many different countries and cultures, Manchester United does not take positions on geopolitical issues."

United's interim boss Ralf Rangnick described Russia's unlawful invasion of their neighbour as a "human disaster".

The German - who left a position at Lokomotiv Moscow to join United earlier this season - was responding to a question regarding the moving of the Champions League final from St. Petersburg to Paris.

"The situation is desperately sad," said Rangnick, "I think everybody will think similarly about that, it's just an incredible situation that we have a kind of war in Europe. And therefore, the decision UEFA took was inevitable and it was the right decision.

"I think everybody has the same opinion about what's happening there. This is just a human disaster, what is happening there for all the people involved.

"Right now, as far as I can tell, the situation in Russia and in Moscow is still safe but this doesn't change anything about the whole situation, which is desperately sad.

"When I still watch TV in the morning and the evening I still cannot believe what I see there.

"This is just a terrible situation and I very, very much hope the politicians all over the world can help to deescalate the situation and finish those kind of things that are happening there."

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Aeroflot Manchester United Ralf Rangnick Russia Russian Invasion Ukraine