Barca to move Unicef to back of jersey

Posted Tuesday, May 17, 2011 by Supersport.com

Barcelona said on Monday they will put the Unicef logo on the back of the team jersey next season after agreeing to extend their support for the UN Children's Fund.

Barcelona's global five-year agreement with Unicef , whose logo is now emblazoned on the front of the Spanish league champions'jersey, had been due to expire next month.

Under the new deal, the Unicef logo is switched to the back of the FC Barcelona official jersey for the 2011-2012 season, below the player's number, the club said in a statement.

The Unicef logo was bumped off the front of the jersey by the Qatar Foundation, which signed a record shirt sponsorship deal with Barcelona last December for €30 million a season, or €165 million until 2016.

The deal with the Qatar Foundation, which promotes education and research in the Middle East, was criticised at the time by former Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff who said it was "sullying the jersey" of a team that boasts to be "mes que un club" (more than a club).

Barcelona said they would provide more details of the agreement with Unicef in June.

"The next phase of the partnership that is still under discussion aims at utilising the social assets of the club in support of a global movement for education and sport that will deliver tangible results for children," the club said.