LONDON - The campaign against English clubs donning advertisements of gambling companies on their jerseys looks to have succeeded.
Having listened to campaigners that included England's goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton, the government is expected to announce a ban on shirts advertising gambling companies from 2023.
Shockingly English football itself is sponsored by a gambling company.
The Government’s white paper, which will outline the proposed changes, will be revealed towards the end of the year or potentially in the early stages of next year.
Though reformers are looking at more severe measures, many are worried how this will affect the lower leagues.
However, TV marketing and pitchside signs are not expected to be affected and this will be the most significant change since promotion of tobacco was banned in the UK in 2003.
Presently nine Premier League clubs have gambling companies as their front-of-shirt sponsors along with six Championship clubs.
The clubs likely to be affected are Brentford, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton, Watford, West Ham, Wolves, Birmingham, Bristol City, Coventry City, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Stoke City.
It must be stated though that gambling companies contribute a significant amount to football and stopping the gravy train could cause severe financial implications to clubs.
The Big Step, a movement to tackle football's relationship with gambling, played a major role in promoting the need to cut football’s close ties with gambling. The campaign group wants football advertisements to be gambling-free on all fronts, not just on television or in the stadium.
They claim that a gambling brand is visible for up to 89% of each episode of Match of the Day, which is watched by seven million people every week.
A review of the 2005 Gambling Act was launched last year, which has played a major role in the expected change in rules. - Agencies, October 3, 2021
