Premier League Clubs To Agree On Voluntary Gambling Sponsor Ban
According to the Times, Premier League Cubs will agree to voluntary ban gambling sponsors from the front of their shirts at a meeting tomorrow.
Voluntary Ban on Premier League Gambling Sponsors
Betting sponsors in football has been a point of controversy for years and it was initially reported last summer that Premier League clubs could voluntary agree to ban them from their shirts. The Times now say that this step will be taken at a meeting tomorrow, in order to negate the need for government legislation on the matter. The UK government are to publish a white paper on gambling next month, but they have made it clear that the paper will not include shirt sponsorship restrictions for clubs if they come to an agreement voluntarily.
Gambling firms can still have their logos on the sleeves.
The clubs will meet tomorrow to come to discuss the implementation of their own ban although the final vote on the motion could take place in June. The proposed action would put an end to betting sponsors on the front of their shirts, but sleeve sponsorships will still be allowed. It also only relates to the Premier League, while no changes will be made to sponsorship rules in the EFL as government ministers allegedly accept that it would "cause too much financial hardship" given how many clubs rely on sponsorship income from betting firms.
The ban is only for the Premier League, gambling sponsors will remain in the EFL.
Eight clubs currently carry betting logos on the front of their kits: Bournemouth, Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton and West Ham. The ban is expected to come into effect at the start of the 23-24 season, but with a phasing out period of three years to allow existing deals to expire and clubs to find new sponsors.
What do you think of this voluntary ban? Does it go far enough or is it just a half measure?
