Penalty Kick: Siemens Pulls Sponsorship Of Super League
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Siemens Cites Strategy Reasons
For Pulling Out Of Chinese FA Deal
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The start of the Chinese Super League “was postponed by a month,
giving soccer clubs more time to find sponsorship after Siemens AG withdrew
its backing last month,” according to Grant Clark of BLOOMBERG NEWS. A Chinese
Football Association (CFA) spokesperson said that the 14 teams voted to start
play on April 2 instead of March 5. Sports consultancy Rhino Sports Int’l Managing
Dir Louis Liu, who represents seven teams, indicated that clubs are “seeking
more revenue and greater say in the league’s running.” Liu added Siemens “cut
short” a three-year contract worth $5.3-10.6M a season. As last season’s Super
League “was marred by match-fixing allegations, low attendances and disputes”
between teams and the CFA, Siemens spokesperson Charles Wong said the league’s
problems “definitely had some effect on sponsors but that wasn’t our main reason”
for canceling the contract. Wong added Siemens dropped out mainly for “strategy
reasons.” The company continues to sponsor the Chinese national team (BLOOMBERG
NEWS, 2/25).
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