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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Pepsi sponsors Hamas football? (UPDATES)

The Hamas mouthpiece Palestine Times has a photo essay of a rebuilt soccer stadium that was built in Beit Lahiya, Gaza, with Qatari aid.

As is usual with these kinds of things, Hamas prime minister and avid soccer player Ismail Haniyeh couldn't resist kicking the ball around together with the team.



But look at the logos of the players with Haniyeh:



Is Pepsi sponsoring a soccer team or league that is backed by terrorist group Hamas? How much do they spend on advertising in Gaza? 

Go and ask at the Pepsi Facebook page or ask @Pepsi on Twitter!

UPDATE: Pepsi removes any mention on their Facebook page as soon as it is posted.

UPDATE 2: According to this Aqsa Sports page, the official Pepsi bottling company in Gaza - Yazji - is the official sponsor of the Hamas-supported ceremony. Based on the uniforms, it appears that the sponsorship goes beyond that. Is Pepsi officially supporting this? (h/t Ian)

UPDATE 3: Pepsi apparently sponsored the Ramadan football championship in Gaza in August:


UPDATE 4: Here is Yazegi's Facebook page, with the Pepsi logo - and Hamas terrorist in chief Ismail Haniyeh - both featured prominently.


UPDATE 5: Judge Dan reminds me that Hamas (as well as Iran and others) used to say that Pepsi is an acronym for "Pay Every Penny to Save Israel."