Werder Bremen supporters protest over potential chicken sponsors

Aug 10, 2012 12:35:00 AM

The Bundesliga club have come up against unexpected opposition ahead of the new season, with supporters campaigning in numbers against the possible deal with Wiesenhof

Werder Bremen have been inundated with complaints from disgruntled supporters who are angry over a controversial new official sponsor.

Fans are vehemently opposed to a potential contract with chicken meat company Wiesenhof, thanks to the company's alleged ill-treatment of the poultry in their care.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung have reported that thousands of fans and animal welfare activists have become involved in the dispute, and have launched a 9000-strong Facebook group to show their opposition.

And the Bundesliga outfit have responded to the concerns by releasing a social media statement of their own.

"Of course we've seen all the statements you've made, and we read them thoroughly," the statement read.

"But we want to stress that no final decision has been made yet about our new main sponsor. Together with our marketing partner INFRONT, we're in final talks with two companies and will choose the one which suits Werder best and is the best choice for the club."

It is not the first time the club have been involved in such a spat, with previous sponsors Citibank and economy clothing brand Kik also greeted with dismay by fans.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Live!

Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

10:41 PM BST

Philipp Lahm is also relieved that Bayern have finally banished the memory of their heart-breaking - and thoroughly undeserved - loss to Chelsea last season.

"We worked unbelievably hard in last year's final and finally we have been rewarded," the Roten skipper enthused.

"We had to got through so much. But everybody worked so hard in the last months and weeks and now we have finally won it."

10:39 PM BST

Even better stuff from Manuel Neuer, who arguably kept his side in the game during the opening 25 minutes, who admitted to Sky Sport Germany:

"I have to admit: after it went 1-1, I was scared as s**t! You remember how it went last year. The feeling when we scored was undescribable."

10:22 PM BST

Terrific stuff from Bayern attacking midfielder Thomas Muller, the kind of socks-around-the-ankles player that I think any true football fan inherently adores.

"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.

"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."

10:17 PM BST

An word from Goal Germany correspondent Tim Rohn on a night of redemption for Bayern Munich:

"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."

10:13 PM BST

Happily, Dortmund's players aren't feeling too down about things. They're proud of what they've done, and rightly so. They've lit up the competition with their fearless brand of football.

"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."

Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern
Goal.com rates the players on show as die Roten edge out their Bundesliga rivals to complete the double after a closely contested Champions League final at Wembley
Robben is finally Bayern's braveheart
The winger was the driving force behind the German outfit's triumph after years of playing second fiddle in the final
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
Top 10 Champions League Final Moments
As Europe braces itself for an all German classic at Wembley on Saturday, Goal.com takes a look back at some of the iconic moments in the history of Uefa's showpiece event since its rebranding in 1992.
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants Isco at Chelsea
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements