New York mayor Zohran Mamdani faces a collision between his passion for English football club Arsenal and his dedication to human rights, as writes Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast in Football | The Guardian. Mamdani, a prominent supporter of the Gunners, has an opportunity to challenge the club over its lucrative sponsorship with the United Arab Emirates due to the nation’s involvement in Sudan.
A Clash of Passions for the New York Mayor
Mamdani has brought significant American attention to Arsenal since becoming mayor, celebrating their league title, writing an essay on the club’s meaning to him, discussing the team in interviews, and inaugurating Thierry Henry Way near Times Square. However, his strong stance against genocide and human rights abuses creates a contradiction regarding Arsenal’s primary partner, Emirates Airlines.
Emirates, owned by the state-owned holding company Emirates Group based in Dubai, features on the front of every Arsenal jersey and gives its name to the stadium in London. The UAE has invested more than $1bn in sponsoring the team, extending an agreement through 2033 to surpass $100m annually, making Arsenal the nation’s second-biggest global sports investment.
The UAE’s Role in Sudan and Global Sportswashing
Investigations indicate that the UAE serves as the primary supplier of weapons and killer drones to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia accused of genocide in Sudan. The ongoing conflict has sparked the world’s largest displacement crisis, forcing 14 million individuals—a quarter of the population—from their homes, while 21 million people face severe hunger.
The partnership forms part of a broader sportswashing campaign by the UAE, which has allocated more than $5.2bn to sponsor sports teams and leagues worldwide. According to calculations, these investments include Manchester City, the New York Knicks, the Emirates NBA Cup, and Formula One, alongside various other sports teams.
Precedent for Change at Arsenal
Arsenal has previously demonstrated a willingness to sever ties with controversial sponsors. Last year, the club dropped its sleeve sponsor, Visit Rwanda, following the country’s military invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the resulting humanitarian crisis that displaced more than 8 million people amid reports of torture, sexual violence, and child soldiers. That decision followed advocacy from the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust and campaigns like Gunners for Peace.
Mamdani can utilize his visibility as a prominent Arsenal fan to influence the club’s American owners, Josh and Stan Kroenke. The owners previously advocated for human rights by demanding a lifetime ban for former Los Angeles Clippers owner Don Sterling over racist remarks. Mamdani could press the leadership, either publicly or privately, to find an alternative sponsor.
Financial Viability and Potential Impact
Following a record-breaking season that earned Arsenal $411m after winning the league and reaching the Champions League final, the club stands as England’s most profitable football team and does not rely on Emirati funds. Viable commercial alternatives exist, such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon technology brand paying comparable amounts to Manchester United, and corporate sponsors like Jeep and T-Mobile supporting Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Terminating the partnership would deliver a significant public relations setback to the UAE, which remains sensitive to its international reputation. New Yorkers and Arsenal supporters are encouraged to urge Mamdani to address the sponsorship issue with the club’s leadership and help combat the world’s deadliest humanitarian crisis.
Source: Football | The Guardian
