Arsenal petition Kroenke to quit

A PETITION calling for Arsenal’s sponsors to call for club owner Stan Kroenke to stand down has nearly reached 50,000 signatures, as pressure continues to grow on the American billionaire following the launch of his hunting television channel.

Kroenke, 70, has faced ferocious criticism over the last 72 hours after it was revealed that a television channel that broadcasts bloodsports and trophy killing is owned by his company, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.

The channel, My Outdoor TV (MOTV), has caused particular outrage among Arsenal supporters, given that a number of them protested against Kroenke’s ownership of the club last season, and a petition has been set-up calling on main sponsors Emirates, Puma and Vitality to “publicly condemn Kroenke’s action and call for him to stand down” and set-up a “meeting between the Arsenal board, key sponsors to the club, leading animal rights charities and most importantly representing members of the international fan bases regarding this situation.”

The petition, created by Rhys Brown, adds: “This is abhorrent and unethical, and it is something which cannot be associated with Arsenal Football Club.”