Derby face probe over bets cash for charity
DERBY COUNTY are being investigated by the Charity Commission over links between the club’s community programme and main sponsor 32Red.
The UK government regulator has concerns about the funding the Derby County Community Trust mental health programme receives from 32Red, the online casino who in addition to a longterm sponsorship deal with the club also pay captain Wayne Rooney’s £90,000-a-week wages.
The Charity Commission are concerned that by accepting £100,000 in funding from 32Red to meet the annual running costs of the Team Talk programme — which provides weekly drop-in sessions to men suffering from ‘mild mental health problems’ — Derby are legitimising gambling and risk exposing vulnerable people to betting.
There is no gambling advertising at most sessions, although Rooney attended a Team Talk event last month wearing Derby training kit including 32Red branding.
Derby announced a three-year deal with 32Red as their main commercial partner last April before signing Rooney in August on an innovative 18-month contract paid for by their sponsors, which involves the former England captain wearing the No32 shirt for his club.
Owned by gambling company Kindred Group, 32Red are also shirt sponsors of Aston Villa, Leeds, Preston and Middlesbrough.
‘We are aware of concerns relating to the partnership between Derby County Community Trust and 32Red,’ said a Charity Commission spokesperson.
‘We will be contacting the trustees to determine how this partnership and the risks associated with it have been considered in light of their charitable aims.’
Derby’s funding for Team Talk has also been criticised by health campaigners, who want the Government to ban commercial deals such as the one with 32Red.
The concerns emerged less than a week after Derby were charged by the EFL over an alleged breach of the league’s profit and sustainability rules, which could lead to a 21-point punishment.
Under a voluntary agreement, clubs do not include gambling sponsors on children’s kit, but this does not prevent Derby printing No32 on kids’ shirts.
‘32Red are playing with the rules,’ said Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the Royal Society of Public Health.
‘If you go to Derby there are so many kids with No32 on their backs due to Wayne Rooney, when they can’t have 32Red on their front. The Gambling Act needs to be reviewed.’
A spokesman for Derby County Community Trust said: ‘Team Talk is an important initiative that supports men with their mental health, giving a safe space to chat.’
198 CAVANI is PSG’s all-time leading scorer, netting 198 goals in 290 games. He’s 42 ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the Swede scoring 156 in 180 games.