West Ham urged to dump sponsor

PRESSURE is mounting on West Ham United to ditch Betway as its sponsor.

Tory peer Karren Brady, who is West Ham’s vicechairman, sang Betway’s praises after it agreed to pay her football club another £60 million in sponsorship last year. She first signed a £10 million deal with the gaming firm in 2015.

Campaigners accused West Ham of profiting from ‘ill-gotten gains’. James Grimes, of the Big Step Project, which asks clubs to review their relationship with bookmakers, said: ‘West Ham should put the well-being of young fans and those affected by gambling harm ahead of short-term profit.’

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling, said: ‘West Ham need to now say, “enough, we’re not going to be sponsored by Betway any more”.’

The club said: ‘West Ham United has received assurances from Betway that the sanctions relate to historical processes which have since been replaced by new strict procedures.’