Kim Min-jae Lee Kang-in's team, sponsorship contract with the Bureau of Human Rights Abuse? European football sportswashing controversy

May 01, 2025

Kim Min-jae Lee Kang-in's team, sponsorship contract with the Bureau of Human Rights Abuse? European football sportswashing controversy
AFP Yonhap News



Sportswashing is a dark shadow.

This act of using sports to erase negative images is committed not only by individuals, but also by businesses, and even by the government. Representative examples include the 1934 World Cup in Italy under the Fasho regime and the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which have been reduced to a Nazi German propaganda field. Recently, several international competitions, including the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the 2034 Saudi World Cup, have not been able to avoid criticism that they are 'sportswashing'. Controversy over sportswashing continues not only in such international competitions, but also in club acquisitions and sponsorships.

The same goes for Rwanda, which has recently expanded its stride in European soccer. The Rwanda Tourism Authority recently signed a sponsorship agreement with Atletico Madrid (hereinafter referred to as AT Madrid) 'VISIT RWANDA'. AT Madrid will put this text on the front of its training suit for three years from the FIFA Club World Cup in June. Prior to AT Madrid, Rwanda's tourism agency also signed sponsorship contracts with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in belong, respectively, and recently signed contracts with Arsenal's men's and women's teams. Munich and PSG will continue their sponsorship with Vizit Rwanda until 2028 through a recent contract extension. According to the BBC, the amount of sponsorship signed by the Rwanda Tourism Authority with each club is known to be more than 10 million pounds (about 18.9 billion won) per year.




Kim Min-jae Lee Kang-in's team, sponsorship contract with the Bureau of Human Rights Abuse? European football sportswashing controversy
EPAYonhap News
Rwanda has recently taken a wide range of steps to become an investment and tourism hub in Africa. In addition to the soccer sponsorship, the World Cycling Championships will be held in September, and he once expressed his willingness to host Formula 1 (F1). However, suspicions about the suppression of human rights in Korea are constantly being raised. In neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda is supporting rebels and even claims that it is sending troops to help them.

The Rwanda Tourism Authority said of its recent sponsorship with AT Madrid "AT Madrid's actions are consistent with Rwanda's journey of superior value, change." AT Madrid also added that "Rwanda is an ever-growing country, and this contract is part of the club's international expansion goals.'

Despite this explanation, fans are not looking at it well. Munich protested against the match in February by betting the accusation that `looking indifferently at Bizit Rwanda betrays the values of the club.' Arsenal fans also protested in front of the stadium, distributing armbands to cover the words of Bigit Rwanda before the first leg of the European Champions League semifinals against PSG. PSG fans also joined the protest.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.