The Spanish football club Sevilla has rejected a shirt sponsorship deal with Israel tourism worth €5 million (£3.7 million) due to “political connotations” of appearing to support Israel.

According to Spanish sports publication Mundo Deportivothe decision made by the 2015 UEFA Europa League champions will impact the club’s finances. Sevilla are currently playing their games with blank shirt as a result of their boycott.

Club sources told the sports website ElDesmarque that the image Israeli sponsorship would project “could be detrimental to Sevilla, especially taking into account present political issues and sensibilities and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

The Israeli ministry of tourism offered Sevilla more than twice the sum it received in its last sponsorship agreement with Malaysia, according to a report in Israel’s Ynet.

Christians United for Israel UK