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Tibet independence campaigners claim victory as Liverpool’s controversial water partnership ends

Unclear whether protests around Anfield and petition to club owner John Henry had any effect as year-long regional partnership is not renewed

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Liverpool have opted not to renew their sponsorship deal with Tibet Water. Photo: Reuters
Jonathan White
English Premier League side Liverpool have ended their controversial partnership with Chinese company Tibet Water, and pro-Tibetan independence campaigners are claiming victory.

Gloria Montgomery, head of advocacy and campaigns at the Tibet Society, said: “This is a massive victory for Tibetans and the nearly 90,000 people globally who called on Liverpool FC to ditch the deal.”

On the SumofUs website, where campaigners staged their petition, an update on September 7 read: “Result! Liverpool FC has dropped Tibet Water!

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“Over the past year, together with Tibet groups we’ve signed petitions, tweeted and shared images on Facebook, and driven a mobile billboard around Anfield on match days. And right as the new football season is getting underway, LFC have opted not to renew the controversial deal.”

However, the Liverpool Echo reports that a renewal of the year-long deal inked last July on the back of two “sold-out matches” in Hong Kong, was never considered by the club.
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The controversial link-up was widely criticised by those opposed to what they SumOfUs described as China’s occupation of Tibet, arguing that Tibet Water Resources Limited can only operate “because the Chinese military occupation allows it to”.

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