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E.ON offside: Student activists target FA-Cup sponsors

Students at Warwick University | 13.03.2009 18:12 | Climate Chaos | Energy Crisis | Birmingham

Activists from Warwick University gave energy giant E.ON the red card at Coventry’s FA Cup sixth round match against Chelsea on Saturday 7th February.

The group
The group

A third year maths student hands out leaflets to the crowd
A third year maths student hands out leaflets to the crowd

A third year english student, dressed as a referee outside the Rico
A third year english student, dressed as a referee outside the Rico


Eleven students, one dressed as a referee, drew the fans’, players’ and directors’ attention to the FA cup sponsor, E.ON’s, foul play of putting profit before people and the planet. This follows activists successfully getting the message to thousands of fans at the fourth round match between Coventry vs Blackburn Rovers last month.

John, an Engineering student, said:

“We met a few people who were employed by E.ON when giving out the leaflets, and we had to explain to them that we were protesting against the coal power plant, not against them personally. It was very satisfying getting rid of two-and-a-half thousand leaflets in an hour and thinking that a lot of people are now a bit more aware of what the company does. Hopefully actions like this will put pressure on E.ON to change its ways.”

E.ON has come under a barrage of protest over its plans to build the first new coal power station in the UK for 30 years. Warwick Students who attended the Camp for Climate Action, which last year targeted the site of the proposed new power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, say they are determined to cut through the spin and ‘greenwash’ to show E.ON for who they really are.

Sarah, a Politics & International Studies student said:

“The Ricoh Arena is sponsored by E.ON so Coventry FC fans are bombarded
with their foul play every time they go to a match, add this to the
extra promotion and hype because of the FA Cup and I think we really
managed to strike E.ON where it hurts. It's really important to get
the message out that they're not as green as they make themselves out
to be.”

Students at Warwick University


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