Leeds United ready to review £6m-a-year SBOTOP deal with Government action close
Leeds United are prepared to review their £6m-a-year sponsorship deal with SBOTOP, with the Government’s forthcoming White Paper action on gambling reform close, according to the Daily Mail.
This news comes after The Athletic [5 February] reported that the Whites were set to stick with the betting firm as their front-of-shirt sponsor, despite many other clubs remaining more flexible with their deals.
Leeds struck a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with online gambling brand SBOTOP, following their promotion to the Premier League in 2020 in a £6million per season agreement.
However, the government are set to clamp down on the Premier League’s financial links to the gambling industry with their upcoming White Paper action on gambling reform expected to call on the English top-flight clubs to agree on a voluntary ban on shirt sponsors.
According to the Daily Mail [2 March, page 69] the Whites are set to review their sponsorship agreement with SBOTOP and are currently looking at alternatives with gambling sponsors potentially being outlawed ahead of the 2024/25 campaign if new legislation is passed.
Must be reviewed
Leeds and other Premier League clubs reviewing their shirt sponsorship deals with betting companies is the correct and most sensible decision, considering the danger gambling has on people’s lives and the effect it could have on young footballers.
We are already seeing the effects of it on one of the Premier League’s most renowned players right now in Ivan Toney who’s expecting to be banned in the coming months after betting breaches.
It is arguable that the betting and gambling aren’t the player’s fault but that of the clubs and betting companies for their constant betting exposure on TV ads, club shirts and even on Media companies such as Sky Sports.
If clubs are forced to endorse addictive products, then they shouldn’t be surprised to see young people used which means it is crucially important this legislation on clamping down on betting shirts sponsorship passes. It could continue to have a damaging effect on people and the up-and-coming generation.
In other Leeds United news, Alan Shearer slammed this “terrible” Leeds player in the loss at Fulham.
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