The government wishes to prohibit betting sponsors from appearing on the shirts of Premier League teams by July 21. However, the Premier League favors allowing gambling sponsors to leave voluntarily over three years.
According to Sky News, the league contacted the government on Friday with a proposal to halt upcoming changes. This includes a five-year ban on T-shirt sponsorships so that decades may pass.
The Proposal
A voluntary ban would go into effect at the beginning of the new season, but current contracts would be permitted to expire no later than the 2024-25 season.
This contact with the 20 Premier League clubs is the most comprehensive step the league has made in recent weeks to address a situation that has been under intense political criticism.
Under the proposal, the branding of gaming companies may remain on the sleeves of shirts. Stadiums are another venue for ocean advertising. To be approved, 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favor.
Everton and Bournemouth recently announced new shirt deals with betting organizations, while Crystal Palace ditched theirs and switched to a car dealership.
The idea will be implemented immediately if at least 14 Premier League teams agree. Club management stated that they had only a few days to respond.
Now, the Premier League wants its teams to play football. So the committee developed this concept to mitigate the abrupt impact of a nationwide ban on gaming advertising.
With 14 of the 20 teams agreeing to participate, the EPL rules will be implemented swiftly. However, an individual claiming to work for the team stated that the league only gave him a few days to consider the offer.
Sky News reported last week’s end that the Premier League has proposed to the government that shirt-sleeve branding be permitted indefinitely. Still, it is unclear whether this proposal was presented to clubs on Monday.
A representative from another team reported that the Premier League stated that the ban on betting sponsorship was intended to be permanent but may be repealed with two years’ notice under exceptional circumstances.
Troubled Waters
One person who received the proposal stated that gaming company perimeter advertising would be permitted to remain.
The British government is revising the country’s gambling legislation, and the betting business will probably be subject to harsher regulations. However, the most significant aspect is eliminating gambling advertisements in sports. The topic is difficult for the major English football clubs because many rely on gambling revenue.
In the following weeks, a government white paper is anticipated to recommend that a prohibition be passed into law. However, Sky Sports was told by a government source that lawmakers would be sympathetic to the concept of an EPL-led self-imposed ban.
Almost half of the Premier League teams, such as Newcastle United and West Ham, were sponsored by betting companies during the previous season. After this season, the Magpies are likely to find a new sponsor. However, Fun88 is likely to remain a sponsor.
Over half of the 20 EPL teams had their logos on the front of their jerseys during the previous season. This number is significantly greater in English soccer’s second and third divisions. Additionally, each team in the English Premier League has an “official betting partner” and a presence within the stadium. SpreadEx Sport at West Ham, Hollywood Bet at Brentford, and Sportsbet.io at Southampton were the additional jersey sponsors from the previous season.
The Premier League is rumored to have informed teams on Monday that they believed it was improper and that the government would attempt to pass legislation against it if they could not agree on themselves.
The Times reported last week that ministers had abandoned efforts to pass a law that would have prevented betting companies from advertising on football shirts in favor of a voluntary agreement with clubs.
According to a source at Whitehall, there have been numerous discussions concerning the conditions of the voluntary agreement in recent days. This indicates that ministers will approve a deal if most clubs approve it.
Nevertheless, if the Premier League’s plan were accepted, it would enrage those opposed to gambling because it would not immediately and fully prevent gambling corporations from advertising at stadiums and on the shirts of clubs in the most-watched domestic football tournament in the world.
A white paper on a larger set of amendments to gaming regulations is scheduled to be published in the coming weeks.
Last Updated on by Ryan
