UEFA insist they WON’T order Red Star Belgrade to dump sponsor Gazprom

UEFA have insisted they won’t order Red Star Belgrade to dump their main sponsor, Russian energy giants Gazprom, ahead of their Europa League match with Rangers.

And the club’s general manager has claimed they will keep their main backers after lashing out at ‘anti-Russian hysteria.’

UEFA have cancelled their lucrative sponsorship with Gazprom and the multinational energy corporation has been ostracised following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Red Star chief Zvezdan Terzic pointed out that they owe their continued survival to Gazprom

Red Star Belgrade are one of three clubs sponsored by Gazprom, along with Zenit St Petersburg and Schalke — with the German side having immediately dumped them as a sponsor in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

However, the Serbians will display their name across their shirts in the first leg at Ibrox next week and the seats at their Marakana Stadium are branded by the name of the company, who have financially backed them for 12 years.

UEFA have no intention of moving to demand a change of sponsorship, stating: ‘It is a matter for individual clubs.’

Red Star general manager Zvezdan Terzic pointed out that they owe their continued survival to Gazprom and blasted UEFA’s and FIFA’s decision to boot Russian clubs out of football.

Schalke have cancelled their sponsorship with Gazprom, the Russian state-owned company

However, the Serbians will display the name across their shirts in next week’s first leg at Ibrox

He said: ‘We have not received a request to remove the Gazprom logo and I sincerely hope that will not happen. Gazprom has been with Red Star since 2010 and was with us when we were threatened with the worst financial problems.

‘If it weren’t for Gazprom, the question is whether there would be a Red Star. People who love Red Star will never forget what Gazprom did for the club.

‘We do not approve of what FIFA and UEFA have done to Russian clubs. There is no basis in international law. There is anti-Russian hysteria across Europe now. 

‘Politics interfered beyond any reason in sports. The Russian people are close to the Serbian people and always will be.’