FC Schalke 04: Vivawest (real estate) succeeds Gazprom (RUS, energy supplier) as main shirt sponsor

Vivawest, a German company specialised in real estate, has become the main shirt sponsor of FC Schalke 04 (2.Bundesliga) "effective immediately," announced the club on 05/03/2022. Vivawest succeeds the Russian company Gazprom (gas and electricity), whose contract was terminated by the German club following Russia's invasion of Ukraine led by Vladimir Putin on 28/02/2022.

The German company made its first appearance on Schalke's shirts during the match versus FC Hansa Rostock (3-4, Matchday 25 of the 2.Bundesliga), on 05/03/2022. The Vivawest logo was displayed above the message "Gemeinsam für Frieden" ("Together for Peace", see below). The shirts will soon be auctioned for the benefit of the FC Schalke 04 Foundation, which is supporting the humanitarian aid provided by the city of Geselkirchen (where the club is based) for refugees from Ukraine.

Gazprom had been a partner of Schalke 04 since 2006-07 and the club's main shirt sponsor since 2012-13, for an estimated €10m per year over the 2021-2025 cycle. After initially withdrawing the Russian group's logo from its shirts in light of…