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Mamdani urged to challenge Arsenal over UAE sponsorship links
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani is described as the United States’ most high-profile supporter of Arsenal. The article argues he should use this influence to challenge the club’s lucrative sponsorship deal with the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Airlines, owned by a state-owned Dubai-based holding company, is Arsenal’s chief sponsor. The UAE has spent more than $1bn sponsoring the team, with its contract extended through 2033 to more than $100m per season. Critics note the UAE is the biggest supplier of weapons and drones to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. This militia is accused of committing genocide, contributing to a crisis where 14 million people have been displaced. The authors suggest Mamdani could pressure the Kroenke family, who own the club, to drop the sponsor. They point out Arsenal recently dropped Visit Rwanda over similar human rights concerns. The piece concludes that Mamdani’s intervention could combine his passions for football and human rights to impact the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The Transfer Siren · 23 October 2026
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani is described as the United States’ most high-profile supporter of Arsenal. The article argues he should use this influence to challenge the club’s lucrative sponsorship deal with the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Airlines, owned by a state-owned Dubai-based holding company, is Arsenal’s chief sponsor. The UAE has spent more than $1bn sponsoring the team, with its contract extended through 2033 to more than $100m per season. Critics note the UAE is the biggest supplier of weapons and drones to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. This militia is accused of committing genocide, contributing to a crisis where 14 million people have been displaced. The authors suggest Mamdani could pressure the Kroenke family, who own the club, to drop the sponsor. They point out Arsenal recently dropped Visit Rwanda over similar human rights concerns. The piece concludes that Mamdani’s intervention could combine his passions for football and human rights to impact the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
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