November 1 – Qatar Airways has become the Official Global Airline Partner of South American confederation Conmebol’s club competitions with immediate effect. The deal will last 4.5 years, taking them through the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
April 24 – High flying Roma, who tonight play Liverpool in the first round of the Champions League semi-final, have announced Qatar Airways will become the club’s new shirt sponsor in a three-year deal.
February 21 – FC Bayern München and Qatar Airways have agreed a new partnership with the airline becoming a Bayern platinum partner from July 2018 until 2023, replacing Lufthansa whose current agreement expires end June 2018.
June 5 – The first football sponsorship fall-out from the cutting of diplomatic ties by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt with Qatar, has been the cancellation of Saudi club Al Ahli’s shirt deal with Qatar Airways.
April 12 – After struggling to find fresh commercial sponsors in the wake of the corruption probe that brought the organisation to its knees, Fifa is set to seal a major partnership with Qatar Airways within weeks, agency reports have quoted unnamed sources as saying.
March 2 – Spanish giants FC Barcelona are reportedly in the final stages of contract negotiation with Qatar Airways for a new four-year sponsorship that will see the club earn €50 million from the airline.
By Paul Nicholson
December 13 – Barcelona have added two new Chinese partners while ‘soon-to-end’ shirt sponsor Qatar Airways has confirmed that it is still in discussion with the club over commercial opportunities once Rakuten take over as the new main sponsor next season.
November 11 – Rumours have intensified that Barcelona are close to announcing a new main sponsor who will replace Qatar Airways on the front of the club’s shirt. The deal is expected to be announced next month, but the identity of the new sponsor is still a secret.
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – Speculation is mounting over who will have the sponsor position on the front of Barcelona’s shirt – probably the most valuable football sponsor position in world football – once the Qatar Airways deal ends at the end of June.