Labour calls for gambling firms to be banned from football shirt sponsorship
2 min read
Football clubs should be banned from having their shirts sponsored by gambling firms, Labour has said.
Deputy leader Tom Watson said allowing the logos on their strips, which are then seen by millions of people across the country, was contributing to the "hidden epidemic of gambling addiction".
Some 25 of the 92 English and Welsh professional clubs - including nine of the 20 Premier League sides - have their shirts sponsored by companies including Dafabet, Bet 365 and 888 Sport.
They include huge names such as Leeds United, Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
FA rules already ban under-18 teams from wearing strips which "displays any reference whatsoever to a product, service or other activity which is considered by the Football Association as detrimental to the welfare, health or general interest of young persons" - including gambling.
The FA has also recently terminated its commercial agreement with bookmakers Ladbrokes.
Mr Watson said that with an estimated 430,000 people in the UK classed as problem gamblers, and over 2 million people either suffering from a serious habit or at risk of doing so, it is time to go further.
He 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.
"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."
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