Gillette Ends Brazil National Team Deal Amid Corruption Crackdown

Gillette ended its sponsorship of Brazil's national football team in June, "just days after the former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) was arrested as part of a U.S.-led investigation into corruption," according to Andrew Downie of REUTERS. The brand, owned by Proctor & Gamble, sponsored Brazil's friendly matches and staged photo opportunities at which players, including Barcelona's Dani Alves and Chelsea's Oscar, "shaved their faces in front of fans and media." Proctor & Gamble officials in Brazil and the U.S. "did not immediately respond to requests for comment." The CBF spokesperson "would not disclose further details about the severed sponsorship," which was first reported by the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper on Sunday. It is "unclear how much the sponsorship was worth." So far, "Gillette is the only sponsor to abandon Brazil's national team, which also has deals with other major brands including Chevrolet, Mastercard, Nike, Samsung and Brazilian bank Itau" (REUTERS, 12/6).