Barcelona set the weekend of Oct. 24-25 for a meeting at which, among other matters, "it will be decided whether or not to retain Qatar Airways as the principle shirt sponsor of the team," according to AS. The Qatari government has a contract until '16 but it "will be the club members who decide if the deal is extended beyond then." It is expected Qatar Airways will offer €60M ($67.8M) a year over the course of the next six seasons to appear on Barcelona's shirt, "the length of time remaining" on current club President Josep Maria Bartomeu's mandate. The Qatar government is "fully aware that there is a queue of suitors to secure a place on one of the most marketable shirts in the sporting world." Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten is "eager to take advantage" of the "benefits of being linked with the club" and could make an "eye-watering offer" to replace Qatar Airways. The decision lies with the club members and is seen as "hugely important" to the future of Barcelona in the face of the "rise of takeovers of Europe's top clubs by the ultra-rich" (AS, 9/1). The EP reported Barcelona's board approved measures like "developing to the max" the club's travel department -- part of Barcelona's Social Area -- with the objective of "increasing the trips of members and fans" to Barcelona's La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League road games. The club also renewed two regional sponsorships: with Thai beer brand Chang, for three years in 11 Southeast Asian countries; and with shampoo brand Head & Shoulders for two years in five Southeast Asian countries (EP, 8/31).
