Brewdog’s Qatar ad backlash should be a lesson for other brands November 8, 2022 The backlash to Brewdog’s ‘anti-World Cup’ campaign is a lesson for other brands It was inevitable that a football World Cup in Qatar would eventually drag the business world into the sporting world. Sponsors of the four-yearly jamboree are being forced to confront awkward questions – and others are taking the opportunity to make hay. [...]
Qatar World Cup: BrewDog slammed for ‘disingenuous’ gesture giving profits to charity November 7, 2022 BrewDog has been slammed for launching a “disingenuous” ‘anti-sponsorship’ campaign for the Qatar World Cup, donating profits to charities but continuing to show the tournament. The brand said it would show the World Cup at its outlets but “all the profits from our Lost Lager sold during the tournament going to fight human rights abuse.” [...]
Qatar World Cup: 700 Heathrow workers to strike causing chaos for travelling fans November 4, 2022 Qatar World Cup football fans will face disruption following the announcement of three days of strike action at Heathrow Airport. Workers on the ground at the international hub employed by Dnata and Menzies will walk out on Friday 18 November, with the tournament in the Gulf state beginning on 20 November. England’s first game is [...]
Outrage grows as UK urges LGBT football fans to ‘compromise’ their sexuality during World Cup in Qatar October 28, 2022 James Cleverly, this week re-appointed as Foreign Secretary, is increasingly under fire for comments he made about how British LGBT football fans should behave while in Qatar for the World Cup. A range of celebrities and thousands of people have taken to social media to express their dismay about Cleverly’s stance. The Foreign Secretary urged [...]
Final Premier League games could be make or break for World Cup hopes October 28, 2022 The eyes of the footballing world are already beginning to look into their peripherals and see the opening day of the Fifa World Cup looking back at them. Because, in a little over three weeks, the first Middle Eastern World Cup, held in Qatar, will begin. It’s been a tournament shrouded in controversy since the [...]
World Cup spells win for struggling advertising market October 27, 2022 The ad sector is set to score a much-needed goal this winter with the Qatar World Cup driving up advertising spend. According to new data from the Advertising Association (AA), ad spend for the final quarter is set to climb by 4.5 per cent from last year’s record high, to a total of £9.5bn. This [...]
Ad build-up to Qatar World Cup is ‘oh so quiet’ October 26, 2022 The World Cup is a little over three weeks away but it’s oh so quiet. At least when Björk sung those words, the accompanying music video by Spike Jonze showed people spontaneously spilling into the street in a Busby Berkeley-style choreographed celebration. But it’s increasingly hard to shake the feeling that there isn’t quite that [...]
Ed Warner: F1 needs to fast track its cost cap procedures October 6, 2022 The headhunter was calling me about a CEO role at a top six Premier League club. He was building his long list of possible candidates. One of the lures was that half the salary would be paid outside the UK in a low tax jurisdiction, ostensibly for services rendered directly to the club’s overseas owners. [...]
Hummel’s Denmark kit, the Qatar World Cup and what it means for sport sponsorship October 4, 2022 Sports industry expert Ben Peppi assesses Hummel’s controversial new Denmark kit for this year’s Qatar World Cup and what the ramifications may be for future sponsorships and commercial deals. The domino effect is in full motion. It started last summer when Cristiano Ronaldo advised people to “drink water” after removing two Coca-Cola bottles from view [...]
Qatar urged to investigate allegations of torture before death of UK tourism exec September 29, 2022 Qatari authorities have been urged to investigate alleged torture of a UK tourism executive before his death three years ago. Mark Bennett was found dead in December 2019 after being arrested 10 weeks earlier at the office of Qatar Airways, his employer. The Times lifted the lid on alleged horrific treatment the tourism executive [...]