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Emirates aims to sponsor PSG until 2019

Dubai's Emirates airline confirmed Thursday it would sponsor the shirts of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain until 2019, despite a regional crisis which has seen the UAE cut ties with Doha.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar (R) poses with Paris Saint Germain’s (PSG) Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (L) during his presentation to the fans at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on August 5, 2017. Brazil superstar Neymar will watch from the stands as Paris Saint-Germain open their season on August 5, 2017, but the French club have already clawed back around a million euros on their world record investment. Neymar, who signed from Barcelona for a mind-boggling 222 million euros ($264 million), is presented to the PSG support prior to his new team’s first game of the Ligue 1 campaign against promoted Amiens. / AFP PHOTO / ALAIN JOCARD

Dubai’s Emirates airline confirmed Thursday it would sponsor the shirts of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain until 2019, despite a regional crisis which has seen the UAE cut ties with Doha.

Emirates’ announcement comes less than a week after Brazilian football phenomenon Neymar transferred from Barcelona to the French club for a world record 222 million euros ($264 million), paid for by Qatar.

“Emirates has a sponsorship contract with the French football club PSG until 2019. So far the club has fulfilled its full obligations and we see no reason to terminate the contract,” a spokesman for the airline told AFP.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Qatar over allegations the Gulf emirate bankrolled Islamist extremists and was too close to Shiite Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional archrival.

Qatar has denied the allegations.

Analysts have said the transfer of Neymar may aim to divert public attention away from the political crisis engulfing Qatar.

PSG players have worn jerseys sponsored by Emirates, which is owned by the Dubai government, since 2006.

Emirates Airlines has partnerships with AC Milan, Real Madrid and Arsenal.

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