Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s attendance at a 2-2 football draw while the country was in a period of mourning for the genocide against Tutsi has sparked criticism from political opponents. The Rwanda national police had instructed civilians to “restrict activities” during this time, including participating in football matches, sports events, betting games, concerts, and other forms of entertainment not related to the commemoration.

Rwanda’s government has since claimed that the guidance was outdated and against their policy. However, opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza expressed concerns about the president’s attendance, citing the issued directives during the mourning period.

Amidst this controversy, concerns were raised regarding Arsenal’s sponsorship deal with Rwanda. The football club, in response, stated that they were collaborating with the country to “change perceptions” as part of the £10 million per year sponsorship agreement.

Arsenal’s Champions League tie is scheduled to take place in Munich, and Mirror Football reached out to the club for comment. Additionally, the text included invitations to join the Mirror Football community and information on data privacy.