EFL: ban on gambling sponsorship “would be catastrophic” for small clubs

The EFL has restated that a ban on gambling sponsorship in sport could devastate small football clubs.

UK.- The chairman of the English Football League, Rick Parry, has restated the league’s concerns that a ban on sports betting sponsorships would cause major hurt to smaller football clubs.

The UK government is believed to considering a blanket ban as part of its review of gambling legislation.

Parry told the Financial Times that such a move would be “catastrophic” for smaller clubs already struggling to survive because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “In the wake of the pandemic, it would be catastrophic for smaller clubs.”

Parry said that the EFL, which is sponsored by the online gambling giant Flutter, can make a “very good case” that the rise of betting sponsorship in football has not led to an increase in problem gambling, and argued that gambling operators, football clubs and leagues should be free to enter commercial partnerships.

He said: “There’s no evidence to suggest that banning sponsorship will reduce the prevalence of problem gambling.”