Tension over the Barça-Congo agreement: Why is Sweden speaking out?

The Swedish government recently commented on the sponsorship agreement that FC Barcelona signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the next four seasons. It will contribute some 10 million net euros per year to the coffers of the club.

According to statements shared by the portal 'Sportbladet', the Minister for Development Cooperation of Sweden, Benjamin Dousa, explained that the Swedish government does not indirectly finance Barça. These statements arose because Sweden sends aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo through UN programs, with food, medicine, books and other humanitarian resources.

Sweden clarifies its relationship with the DRC and disassociates itself from Barça

In that sense, Dousa makes it clear that the funds that his country sends are not for the agreement between Barça and the DRC. The Scandinavian country contributed in the last four years a figure of 3.34 billion Swedish crowns per year (about 300 million euros). In turn, the Swedish government also clarified that the funds contributed to the DRC are controlled through the UN.

"Not a single cent of Swedish taxes is being used to finance cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and FC Barcelona"

FC Barcelona and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo reached an agreement last Wednesday to “promote football, the culture of sport and peace”, valid for the next four seasons, until the summer of 2029.

Thanks to this alliance, the blaugrana team will receive a total of 40 million euros, 10 per season, an important injection for its coffers, even more so when the club still does not balance accounts with its financial 'Fair Play'.

Other details of the agreement between Barça and the Republic of Congo

In the agreement between Barça and the African nation it was established that, through the Barça Academies, a program of sports activities aimed at children of the DRC will be created and developed in different disciplines such as football, futsal, basketball and handball.

The agreement also indicates that they must display the emblem 'DR Congo - Coeur de Afrique'  on the back of the shirt until the 2028-2029 season, making the African country the new Global Partner of the club. Along with the azulgrana team, clubs such as AC Milan and AS Monaco also have similar agreements with the government of the DRC.

In addition, this agreement will be present in the Espai Barça, an integral project to modernize the club's facilities, where the House of the DRC will be built in the facilities of the Spotify Camp Nou, to “show the cultural diversity and sporting tradition of the Democratic Republic of Congo”, Barcelona reported in its official statement.