Ban call on football gambling adverts
LABOUR Deputy Leader Tom Watson has called for a ban on football shirt sponsorship deals by gambling companies.
The party claims that nine of the 20 Premier League clubs – and 14 out of 24 Championship clubs – have such deals.
In June Swansea City announced a partnership with betting firm LeTou.
Labour argues the deals put the logos of gambling companies in front of millions of supporters and children.
Mr Watson said: “Football has to play its part in tackling Britain’s hidden epidemic of gambling addiction. Shirt sponsorship sends out a message that football clubs don’t take problem gambling among their own fans seriously enough.
“It puts gambling brands in front of fans of all ages, not just at matches but on broadcasts and highlights packages on both commercial television and the BBC.”
Mr Watson, who is Labour’s Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, added: “Clubs have a corporate social responsibility to their fans not to promote harmful products – as the Football Association recognised this summer when it terminated its sponsorship deal with a betting company. With new evidence showing gambling addiction rising, at a huge cost to individuals and their families, to society and to the taxpayer, the clubs should follow the FA’s lead.
“Just as tobacco companies were banned from sponsoring sporting events and putting their logos on branded goods because of the harm smoking can cause, it’s right that we recognise the harm problem gambling does and take gambling logos off football shirts.”
This is the latest in a series of measures targeting gambling advertising and sponsorship that Labour plans to announce.