Irish bookies tight-lipped on UK ‘in-play’ ban

IRELAND’S bookmakers remained tight-lipped last night after their British counterparts agreed to a ban on advertising during live sport on TV. Football broadcasting in the UK will feel the brunt of the impact, with more than 90 minutes of betting adverts shown during the World Cup, prompting concerns about children being exposed. However, when quizzed as to whether the agreement would be extended to cover customers and viewers in Ireland, industry sources delivered a firm ‘no comment’.

All-but one of the 20 Premier League clubs in England also have a gambling partner and deals can be worth up to £20million a year. Despite the ban, clubs might actually profit from the blackout, according to one commercial director working in top-flight English football.

‘Clubs will look at these developments and possibly see a chance to make more money,’ said one top-flight commerical director. ‘Because if bookmakers can no longer advertise on television, that potentially makes our advertising media at matches more valuable, charging more for the LED perimeter screens and other forms of gambling advertising at the game.’ Australia and Italy have already decided that enough is enough. In July, the Italian government approved a ban on all advertisements for gambling, including on TV, radio, and online, with a threat of heavy fines.

And it is a policy that has been extended to sports clubs, who are no longer allowed to sign sponsorship or promotion deals with gambling companies.

JOE GOMEZ has been ruled out of a critical stage of Liverpool’s season after breaking his left leg in Wednesday’s win at Burnley.

The England defender received the news he had been dreading yesterday afternoon when he had a scan at Spire Hospital to determine the extent of the damage he suffered in a heavy challenge by Burnley defender Ben Mee.

Though Mee’s tackle in the first half of Liverpool’s 3-1 win was legal, his momentum caused him to land heavily on Gomez’s ankle. The 21-year-old has a fracture at the bottom of his left leg, meaning he will be out for up to six weeks.

The set-back could not have come at a worse time for Gomez and his manager Jurgen Klopp, because it means he will miss games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League, as well as the Champions League decider with Napoli.

Liverpool are hopeful that six weeks will be the maximum time he is out but, at this stage of the campaign, it will mean he is potentially unavailable for up to 10 games. Gomez is distraught and, as a popular member of the dressing room, it has had an impact on his team-mates.

Klopp was unhappy with the intensity of Burnley’s tackles, but Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson insisted they are going to have to get used to opponents being physical.

‘I think you’ve got to expect that,’ he said. ‘If you lose your head you can pick up cards.

‘The focus was brilliant in terms of maintaining control and creating chances. There were a couple of tackles that could have gone either way, but they’ve managed to get the ball.’

Henderson is determined to have a run of games in the team now, after an autumn disrupted by a hamstring issue and then a one-game suspension. He linked well with £52million man Naby Keita at Turf Moor and feels the Guinea international is starting to find his feet.

‘He was outstanding,’ said Henderson. ‘You can see how good he is on the ball, how comfortable he is driving forward with the ball.

‘He’ll go from strength to strength as he gets more games and experience. You can already see he’s a fantastic player.

‘We’re going to need everyone over the next few months because the games come thick and fast. We need everyone to play their part.’