FA Ends All Sponsorship Deals With Betting Companies

The English Football Association will no longer have a betting partner after terminating their contract with Ladbrokes worth around £4m a year following a string of high-profile gambling controversies in the sport, it has been announced today.

FA Terminates Ladbrokes Sponsorship Deal

The decision also comes after Joey Barton, serving an 18-month ban for gambling offences, accused the FA of hypocrisy over the deal.

The chief executive, Martin Glenn, said: "We would like to thank Ladbrokes for both being a valued partner over the last year and for their professionalism and understanding about our change of policy around gambling.”

The FA deal with Ladbrokes had three years of a four-year contract to run.

Jim Mullen, CEO of Ladbrokes Coral, said: "We understand The FA's decision regarding their commercial partnerships on gambling. Football is a passion of ours, and our customers, and we remain committed to working with The FA to ensure the integrity and trust of the sport is maintained for the fans of the game and the millions of customers who enjoy betting on it week in and week out."

The EFL said the FA decision had no bearing on its own partnership with Sky Bet, which is in its fifth year. A spokesman said: "The EFL is of the firm belief that there is no conflict in having a commercial relationship with the gaming industry, as it is the FA who have the ultimate responsibility of enforcing any breach of the existing betting rules that all those who participate in our competitions have to adhere to."

Last season half of the 20 Premier League clubs had a betting firm as a shirt sponsor, with others having official betting partners.

What do you think about betting sponsorship in football? Let us know in the comments below.