Dutch Football Association opposes ban on gambling sponsors
The KNVB wrote a letter to Minister Franc Weerwind outlining the detrimental effect the ban will have on the income of sports teams
The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has claimed the proposal to ban untargeted gambling advertising could cost the governing body and its teams €70m (£61m) and simply isn’t workable.
The KNVB made this point in a letter to Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind in response to the proposals to ban gambling sponsors in sports by January 2025.
According to the KNVB, a ban is taking things too far. It wrote: “With the intended total ban, the cabinet is not looking further at alternatives to limit the risks of online gambling. Furthermore, the ban would result in much less income for sports teams, between €40m and €70m per year.”
The KNVB proposed that instead of the ban, players and coaches could appear in adverts warning of the risks of gambling. Clubs could also include in their contracts with gambling firms that any material involving them would not cause moral or material damage, and companies must take extra steps to help protect young people.
The governing body also said that clubs could use their media channels to inform supporters of the dangers of gambling harm.
The KNVB further suggested that the football sector should self-regulate itself regarding shirt sponsorship, advertising boards and naming partners, stating: “For example, an online gambling provider may ultimately be the main sponsor, but must give the place on a shirt to a social organisation.”
This viewpoint from the KNVB comes after multiple Dutch clubs agreed on deals with gambling companies in the run-up to the current season, including AFC Ajax and Kindred Group partnering in June.