Bayern Munich "signed a new sponsorship deal with Hamad Int'l Airport in Doha, Qatar," according to Nils Lehnebach of BILD. The deal with the airport "will reportedly run for seven years." The airport will become a second-tier platinum partner of the club. Those type of partnerships "have an estimated mid-seven figure value." As part of the partnership, Doha Airport "will receive ad space on LED boards during home games at the Allianz Arena." The deal "will also include a social component." Doha Airport becomes the club's 10th platinum partner, which also includes DHL, Gigaset, Goodyear, HypoVereinsbank, Lufthansa, Paulaner, SAP, Tipico and Yingli (SPONSORs, 1/27). SOCCEREX reported the new deal comes "amid criticism of the club's ties with Qatar, which remains under scrutiny for its human rights record and treatment of migrant workers." Bayern has traveled to Qatar for its annual winter training camp every year since '11, though club Chair Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has insisted "a training camp is not a political statement." ESPN reported Qatar owns 15.6% of German carmaker Volkswagen, which in turn holds shares in Bayern through its Audi subsidiary (SOCCEREX, 1/27).
