Aston Villa warn of sport laundering after signing Rwanda tour sponsorship

Aston Villa They have been warned that their new £20m-a-year sponsorship deal with Rwanda will be used to whitewash the country’s human rights record in sport.

The African nation’s tourist board is replacing the Betanu in front of Villa Malia in a multi-year deal for the men’s, women’s and academy teams.

The Premier League club called the move “the most important sponsorship deal in the football club’s history”, but Felix Jackens, head of UK campaigns for Amnesty International, raised concerns.

Last month, the Democratic Republic of Congo sued its neighbor Rwanda at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Violation of many international agreements.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been supporting armed groups since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, prompting Rwandan forces to carry out illegal military operations against its territory.

Rwanda has long denied supporting rebel groups in the country, but UN experts and Western governments are among those who say Rwanda supports the M23, an armed group in eastern DRC.

“Rwanda’s use of sports washing to divert attention from its appalling human rights record is nothing new,” Jakens told BBC Sport.

“Aston Villa Rwanda should be well aware that it wants to create positive public relations for this partnership. The country is rife with arbitrary arrests, torture and suppression of freedom of expression – these are domestic abuses.

“We are witnessing bloodshed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda is playing a major role in fueling that conflict – through its support for the M23 rebels and direct military action in eastern Congo.

“Rwanda sports should be washed, and we want it Aston Villa For this, the Premier League should play its part.”

Villa needed to replace Bentano after Premier League clubs agreed. Removing gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts at the end of last season.

Francesco Calvo, president of business operations, negotiated the deal.

“This is a very exciting partnership,” Calvo said in a club statement. Aston Villa And it is a sign of the club’s continued expansion and growth into international markets.

“There are vast opportunities and deep opportunities for collaboration, learning and innovation and we look forward to working with Tour Rwanda to deliver meaningful activities in tourism, investment and sports development.”

Aston Villa They have been contacted for further comment.