Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FA in £4m loser at Ladbrokes
THE FA have cut their ties with the betting industry by ending a £4million-a-year contract with Ladbrokes. The sudden move – just a year into a four-year deal – comes after critics accused English football’s rulers of double standards with bans for players who breached the rules on gambling. It also follows the 18-month ban imposed on Joey Barton in April – a punishment which saw the former Burnley midfielder hit out at the FA’S position. FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “We would like to thank Ladbrokes for both being a valued partner over the last year and for their professionalism and understanding about our change of policy around gambling.” A statement from Wembley added: “At the May FA board meeting, it was agreed that the FA would end all sponsorships with betting companies starting from the end of the 2016-17 season. As a consequence, the FA has mutually agreed with Ladbrokes that its current partnership with the FA will be terminated from June 2017. “The FA will continue to work with betting companies, including Ladbrokes, as they play a key role in sharing information on suspect betting patterns and so help in regulating the game.” Any betting firm entering into a commercial partnership with a Premier League club must sign a memorandum of understanding. Among other stipulations, they will not be allowed to offer bets on youth matches or to advertise on kids’ shirts.”