Liverpool shirt sponsors, Standard Chartered, accused of helping to fund ‘terrorist groups’

Liverpool’s main sponsor Standard Chartered has been accused of helping to fund terrorist groups by carrying out billions of dollars worth of transactions.

According to reports, the claims, which originated from a former Standard Chartered bank executive and another whistleblower, have now been supported in a court filing by an independent expert.

He alleges that the leaked documents show that the bank conducted transactions over five years in breach of sanctions against Iran.

Meanwhile, Standard Chartered, which has headquarters in London, has twice admitted to breaching sanctions against Iran and other countries and has paid fines of over $1.7bn (£1.3bn/€1.6m). The bank also avoided prosecution for money laundering in 2012.

The whistleblowers whose information sparked that investigation later brought a case against the investigating US authorities, but that was dismissed in 2019. However, an independent expert now claims that the documents turned over show $9.6bn (£7.5bn/€8.8bn) worth of transactions with individuals and companies designated by the US government as ‘terror groups’.

The BBC reports they include Hamas, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban.

In a statement to the BBC, Standard Chartered said it ‘disputes’ the claims from the expert and insists the former allegations had been ‘thoroughly discredited’ by authorities.

The UK bank first struck a deal with Liverpool FC in 2010 and has since featured on the front of match shirts. That partnership was renewed until the 2026/27 season back in 2022 with Liverpool and Standard Chartered working together to support a series of community investment programs.

Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered agreed a £50m-a-year extension which is £10m-a-year more than their initial deal.