Manchester United apologises for ‘misunderstanding’ over Ferdinand’s Indonesian ad

Manchester United has apologised for a misunderstanding after it became apparent Rio Ferdinand has been involved in promoting a company that owns one of Asia’s biggest cigarette brands.

The Manchester United defender features in billboard advertisements and YouTube videos in Indonesia that promote Gudang Garam International’s internet-based sports channel, Intersport.

Gundang Garam International is one of Indonesia’s largest tobacco firms and its cigarettes are popular with children. Gudang Garam International makes much of its profits from tobacco, its Intersport channel shows Premier League football matches and helps to raise the profile of English football in Asia,

A spokesman for Ferdinand, who supports the global children’s charity Unicef, said he was advertising the sports channel and not tobacco and that Ferdinand was consulting lawyers about the use of his image in the campaign.

Gudang Garam International makes much of its profits from tobacco, its Intersport channel shows Premier League football matches and helps to raise the profile of English football in Asia,

In the YouTube videos, Ferdinand, is wearing a red football kit and displaying the GGI corporate badge.

The final scene cuts to the Intersport logo, which is then followed by the Gudam Garang International logo and a tobacco health warning.

A United spokeswoman said: ”The contractual agreement between Rio and Gudang Garam Intersports runs to  October 31 2012, at which time all forms of advertising will cease.

“Both Manchester United and Rio Ferdinand are sorry for this misunderstanding and will endeavour to ensure that it is not repeated in the future.”

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