Emirates to drop ref sponsorship

Marketing, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 12:00am,

A replacement sponsor for domestic football referees is being sought after Emirates decided not to renew its contract, which expires at the end of the 2006/07 season.

The airline's three-year association with the Professional Game Match Officials is believed to be worth about £3m.

Emirates' senior vice-president for corporate communications, Mike Simon, cited the airline's increased spend in other areas of the sport as the main reason behind the decision.

'Emirates has a defined budget and our commitment to FIFA and three European football clubs means, regretfully, we cannot continue sponsoring referees,' he said.

This article was first published on Marketing