The decision is a joint one between the two parties, according to the competition organizer.
“The hatred and the various threats that have been directed towards Al Shira’aa, towards H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bint Zayed Al Nahyan, towards me personally and my colleagues have been utterly unreasonable”, says Jana Wannius, the competition’s chairman, in the press release.
After Falsterbo presented a new sponsorship agreement with Al Shira’aa Stables at the end of February and also changed its name to Al Shira’aa Falsterbo Horse Show, the criticism has been massive.
Long-standing sponsors and exhibitors have withdrawn their participation in this year’s competition.
"Has escalated"
"Falsterbo failed to communicate our decision and what was the intention with the long-term cooperation. The whole thing has escalated in such a way that the discussion and debate overshadow what we all love, the competition itself and the event", it is written in the press release.
The company Al Shira’aa Stables is based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Behind the company stands Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is part of Abu Dhabi’s royal family.
Much of the criticism has revolved around the country’s lack of human rights.
There are enormous problems, said researcher Anna Vidén, at the Foreign Policy Institute, to TT.
Jana Wannius has defended the cooperation in several interviews.
"No reactions at all"
I wonder where you should draw the line? The competition will be just like usual. There are very many opinions regardless of what you do in equestrian sports. When you sign similar agreements in, for example, Hamburg or England, there are no reactions at all, he said to SVT.
Falsterbo was without a main sponsor since last year, but then came into contact with Al Shira’aa Stables, which also sponsors the Hickstead derby in the UK and the Hamburg derby.
The sponsorship agreement was entered into, according to the press release, "to ensure continued development for both breadth and elite at Falsterbo Horse Show" as well as "to strengthen the competition in a highly internationally competitive environment".
This year’s competition will take place between July 5-13 – but now without the new main sponsor.
