Wimbledon official defends Barclays sponsorship deal amid protests

Usama Al-Qassab cited tournament's very thorough vetting process' after pro-Palestine and climate protests

A top Wimbledon official has staunchly defended the tournament's sponsorship deal with Barclays, accusing pro-Palestine and climate protesters of seeking to boost their campaigns' profile.

Tournament organisers have come under pressure to drop the bank as a sponsor from climate groups and anti-war activists, who accuse Barclays of using the event to cover up its role" in funding the climate crisis and to hide from accountability for its role in enabling Israel's war crimes".