The global energy giant Gazprom is reportedly showing a great deal of interest in Greece's sports industry According to an article in SportDay, the energy giant, which is already a sponsor of teams such as Chelsea and Serbia's Red Star, and which is ready to sign a commercial cooperation agreement with Germany's Bayern, is now now looking into investing in several Greek soccer teams.
Gazprom, which has already been active in Greece since the early 90s, is planning to gain a large chunk of Hellenic Petroleum which is currently in the process of being privatized.
In 2009, the company purchased 51 percent of the state electrical company and then began sponsoring its Red Star team thus revolutionizing the soccer industry in the Balkans.
In 2005 Gazprom invested in Venezuela natural gas and oil exploration and then through its state oil company PDVSA began sponsoring the Deportivo Tahir.
Finally, it is rumored that the company is planning a similar move in Cyprus.
The move might prove to be a life saver to the Greek soccer industry which is not enjoying the hay days of 2004 when the national team won the European Championship but is unfortunately suffering just like every other industry in this country which is a result of a deep recession. Besides, Germany has already done this by sponsoring teams such as Schalke and Bayern.
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