The majority of Borussia Dortmund club members spoke out against a controversial advertising deal on Sunday. The BVB shareholders see it differently.

In the dispute over an advertising contract with the arms company Rheinmetall, the majority of Borussia Dortmund shareholders did not speak out against the deal. The umbrella organization of critical shareholders had filed the motion not to discharge the management because of the contract with the arms company. However, the majority of shareholders (99.84 percent) did not support it.

On Sunday, the majority of the association’s members had spoken out against the contract with Germany’s largest arms manufacturer at the association’s annual general meeting. However, the vote is not binding for the management of the Bundesliga soccer club.

The partnership between Borussia Dortmund and Rheinmetall includes the use of high-reach advertising space, marketing rights, and event and hospitality offers in the stadium and on the club grounds. After the deal was announced, there was criticism from pacifists, human rights organizations, and also from some fans.

Rheinmetall is Germany’s largest arms company, which is experiencing strong growth in the context of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the general arms boom.