Hills sorry after logo removed

SCOTTISH CUP sponsors William Hill have apologised to Celtic and Rangers after they removed the club’s sponsor logos in the match programme.

Celtic’s main club sponsor is Dafabet while Rangers have a deal with online company 32Red.

However, branding for both companies was removed from pictures in the William Hill adverts used in the programme for Sunday’s semi-final.

Celtic spoke to SFA officials at Hampden on Sunday when they became aware of the situation and the matter has now been raised internally by the governing body.

Last night William Hill apologised and claimed it was an honest mistake by the designer of the adverts.

A spokesman said: “It was an oversight and we apologise to both clubs.

“It was an honest mistake by the designer as he had looked at previous adverts where drinks sponsors had been removed from images as we don’t like mixing drinking and gambling.

“It shouldn’t have happened and we can assure Celtic – and Aberdeen – that there will be no issue in the programme for the Final.”

Dafabet signed a fouryear deal with Celtic in May 2016 which was described by Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell as the biggest of its kind in Scottish football history.

It is understood the backing is worth over £2.6million per season.

Rangers signed an undisclosed deal with 32Red in 2014 which is due to expire at the end of this season.