PL Clubs – Selling Kit Replicas with Gambling Logos
Premier League clubs have been accused of breaking rules regarding gambling sponsors. More specifically, five clubs have been found guilty of selling kit replicas with the inclusion of gambling sponsors’ logos.
Premier League clubs are breaking gambling sponsorship rules © KelvinStuttard, Pixabay
Premier League Clubs Falling Foul Of Gambling Sponsorship Rules
Teams in the Premier League are not allowed to sell replica kits in children’s sizes with a gambling sponsor. They should also have the option to buy adult replica kits without the gambling shirt sponsor featured, as per the league’s rules.
Premier League regulations state: “Ensuring that mechanisms exist to enable supporters to have the ability to purchase adult replica kits that do not include gambling sponsorship logos, in the event that they are not otherwise available for purchase.”
The revelations come amid speculation that the UK’s betting industry could be subject to new regulation, which may include sports sponsorship. The Labour Party promised it would look at reform of the sector prior to its win at the 2024 general election.
The Big Step, which campaigns for football to bring a complete stop to gambling sponsorship in football, said: “This is yet more evidence that football can’t be trusted on gambling – it’s time for the government to end this nonsense.”
Five Clubs Guilty
More than half of clubs in the Premier League currently have a gambling sponsor. This is despite the fact that betting sponsors will soon be against its regulations. The 11 clubs in the Premier League that have gambling shirt sponsors are as follows:
- Aston Villa
- Bournemouth
- Brentford
- Crystal Palace
- Everton
- Fulham
- Leicester City
- Nottingham Forest
- Southampton
- West Ham United
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
A report by the Pitch Inspection found that five of these clubs – Aston Villa, Everton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Southampton – are not selling replica shirts without betting sponsors.
Forest were among the clubs to confirm that shirts with no shirt sponsor were not available to buy from the club shop, either in person or via its online shop.
“Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately, we do not offer kits without the sponsor’s logo on the front. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause”, said Forest’s statement.
Some Clubs Are Following the Rules
The research found half a dozen Premier League clubs with a gambling shirt sponsor. Those include Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, West Ham United and Wolves which allow fans to purchase a replica shirt without the sponsor on the front.
However, the news that five clubs in the Premier League are not following regulations over gambling sponsorship comes shortly after at least half of the league’s teams could have been violating a voluntary code of conduct on gambling sponsorship aimed at protecting minors.
The two investigations cast doubt on the football industry’s ability, or willingness, to follow rules regarding gambling sponsorships.
