Brady faces fury over deal with ‘immoral’ firm
BARONESS Brady sang Betway’s praises after it agreed to pay her football club another £60million in sponsorship.
The Apprentice star is vice-chairman of West Ham United, which signed a new, £10million-a-year deal with Betway last summer – the seventh-biggest sponsorship deal in the country.
The partnership means pitchside hoardings at West Ham’s home ground – London’s Olympic stadium – are covered in Betway branding. The logo is also emblazoned across players’ kits.
The firm’s first deal with West Ham was signed in 2015 – and the new agreement means the club will be sponsored by the betting giant for a decade. This is despite the fact that in 201 the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) – which runs the Olympic Park – refused to consider gambling companies when seeking a sponsor for stadium naming rights.
Upon agreeing the new six-year deal last summer, West Ham described Betway as a ‘respected and responsible’ sponsor. Baroness Brady – who was paid £1.3million by the club last year – said: ‘We are delighted to once again extend our partnership with Betway... this is a new, long-term, record-break-the ing commercial deal for the club, which shows the faith that Betway has in West Ham United... we look forward to continuing to work with Betway as we embark on the next chapter for our great club, and we will use this partnership as a platform for success.’
Adam Bradford, who runs the Safer Online Gambling Group, said last night: ‘She of all people, a member of the House of Lords, has a public duty to act in the interest of the people. Someone needs to ask serious questions of her.’
James Grimes of the Big Step Project, which highlights the dangers of gambling’s links with football, said: ‘The immoral and unethical practices highlighted by the Daily Mail show Betway is not fit to be on the shirts of a prestigious club such as West Ham. I would urge Karren Brady to end this deal immediately to protect gambling addicts.’
Some 2 of England’s top 44 professional football teams carry a bookmakers’ logo on their shirts. The industry agreed a ‘whistle-to-whistle’ ban on TV advertising during live sport last year – but this does not cover players’ shirts or the stadiums themselves.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the LLDC said Betway’s sponsorship deal was with West Ham, and not the stadium itself. Baroness Brady and West Ham United declined to comment.
‘Need to ask serious questions’