Amnesty International warns Aston Villa over Visit Rwanda sportswashing concerns | OneFootball

Aston Villa confirmed Visit Rwanda as their new front-of-shirt sponsor on Tuesday, prompting Amnesty International to warn the partnership will be used to sportswash the country’s human rights record. The club called it the most important sponsorship deal in its history.

“It’s not new that Rwanda is using sportswashing to deflect attention from its terrible human rights record.” Felix Jakens, Amnesty’s UK head of campaigns, told the Press Association.

“Aston Villa should be well aware that Rwanda is seeking to leverage this partnership to create positive PR. The country is prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech – these are abuses at home.”

“We are seeing bloodshed right before our eyes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda is playing a significant role in fuelling that conflict – both through its support to the M23 rebels and the direct actions of its military in eastern Congo.”

“Rwanda’s sportswashing needs to be called out, and we’d like Aston Villa and the Premier League to play their part in this.”

The Visit Rwanda logo will appear on the men’s, women’s and academy teams’ shirts.

Arsenal previously had a Visit Rwanda sleeve deal from 2018 until last month, and faced pressure during that period to end the agreement.

Visit Rwanda is also the shirt sponsor of Atletico Madrid. Paris St Germain extended its partnership last year until 2028, with the men’s training kit and the women’s first team carrying the logo.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com