Parimatch Tech limits Chelsea marketing following Roman Abramovich sanctions
Online operator pauses marketing activities with Premier League side as club’s owner economically shackled by UK government
Parimatch Tech has limited all of its marketing campaigns with Chelsea featuring the company’s logo following sanctions applied to the club’s owner Roman Abramovich, EGR can reveal.
Earlier this month, the UK government sanctioned Abramovich, along with six other Russian oligarchs, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent war that’s ensued.
Under the terms of the sanctions, Chelsea cannot sell any more tickets for games, their online and in-store merchandise shops are closed and they are unable to buy or sell players on the transfer market.
The club are currently operating on a special licence allowing fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches.
EGR understands Parimatch Tech held discussions with Chelsea last week regarding their mutual commercial relationship and has now decided to pause its marketing efforts with the club.
In a statement, Parimatch Tech said: “After considering the situation, we have decided to pause all joint marketing and brand campaigns with the club featuring the Parimatch logo and brand.”
However, Parimatch Tech revealed that instead of using the LED display systems at Stamford Bridge for marketing purposes, it would instead promote the firm’s volunteering and donation activities in Ukraine.
Parimatch Tech continued: “Together with our licensed partner in Great Britain, we have agreed to use the LED display systems at Stamford Bridge for the promotion of our volunteering and donation activities to help Ukraine, which Chelsea are supportive of. We will also keep monitoring further developments around the club.
“All of our current activity in the public domain is aimed at raising awareness about the war. And we intend to use the resources at hand, including the club’s LED display systems, to promote our volunteering and donation activities.”
Earlier this month, Parimatch Tech withdrew its services from Russia and donated more than £750,000 to provide protective ammunition, food, medicine and logistics to Ukrainians.
Parimatch Tech said: “We have always been proud of the Ukrainian roots of our company, and in these difficult times, we are even more overwhelmed by [the] love for our native country.
“We strongly condemn the military aggression against Ukraine and [will] try to do everything possible to help Ukraine.”
Parimatch entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Champions League holders in the summer of 2021.