Parimatch Tech will limit its marketing deals with Chelsea FC as part of its sponsorship deal with the club, as team owner Roman Abramovic has received sanctions from the British government.
The Russian billionaire and owner and former director of the Premier League club, has been placed on a list of businessmen penalized by British authorities for his ties to the regime of Vladimir Putin.
Although his position on Chelsea’s board has been suspended and he has declared his intention to sell the club – receiving at least two multi-billion pound offers, according to sports media – Abramovic is still the owner of the team.
Parimatch signed a sponsorship deal with Chelsea in August 2021, with the three-year deal including the display of the brand’s logo on LED systems at Stamford Bridge, as well as granting the company the right to leverage the digital heritage, club’s social and logistical
The international betting and gaming company will maintain its sponsorship deal with Chelsea, but will instead use its LED signage to promote voluntary and humanitarian efforts.
“After considering the situation, we have decided to pause all joint marketing and branding campaigns with the club introducing the Parimatch logo and branding,” read a statement from Parimatch.
“Together with our licensed partner in Great Britain, we have agreed to use the LED display systems at Stamford Bridge exclusively for the promotion of our volunteering and donation activities to help Ukraine, which Chelsea FC supports.”
Parimatch’s position in the face of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
The company, founded in Kyiv in 1994, has been extremely firm in its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine due to its roots in the country, and has enacted various measures in response.
Parimatch has been donating large sums of money to support the Ukrainian military and the general public over the course of three weeks of conflict, most recently doubling its financial aid from 30 million Ukrainian Hryvna to 60 million Ukrainian Hryvna – about 2,000,000. 9 million euros.
When publishing an update, the brand detailed that so far 39 million Ukrainian Hryvna have been spent on ammunition, 3 million on medicine, clothing, food and logistics and 18 million on humanitarian aid, binoculars, armor, drones, helmets, military specifications, images. thermals and night vision devices.
Additionally, the company withdrew its Parimatch Russia franchise shortly after the initial invasion, citing “military aggression by the Russian Federation”.
The industry’s condemnation of Russian military actions has led a number of companies to suspend their business relationships and/or operations in the country, while the Gambling Industry’s Ukraine initiative has so far raised hundreds of thousands in donations.
