Spanish government: La Liga gambling sponsorships must end by September
Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzon issues letter to 25 clubs calling time on gambling sponsorships in football
Spanish football clubs must end all gambling sponsorships by the completion of the 2020-21 football season according to the country’s Minister for Consumer Affairs Alberto Garzón.
In a letter penned to 25 professional football clubs that concluded sponsorship deals with gambling operators ahead of the current campaign, Garzon warned the agreements would be illegal once a new blanket ban comes into force.
“This ministry has had evidence that the club you represent has started in the last weeks a commercial sponsorship relationship with a company that will be affected by the new rules for a longer duration than this season,” Garzón wrote.
“Thus, we make it clear that from the moment the Royal Decree enters into force, that contract will be outside the established by law, therefore, please bear in mind this fact in order to adapt your sponsorship relationship” the minister added.
🚨 Noticia @partidazocope
📩 Carta del Gobierno a los equipos de @LaLiga: "En los próximos días se les obligará a retirar la publicidad de casas de apuestas"
😡 La gran mayoría de equipos están muy enfadados con esta decisión del Gobierno
📻 #PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/UokSUzDboa
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) October 28, 2020
Garzón has confirmed the new Royal Decree on gambling advertising will be passed to Spain’s Council of State for final sign-off, having previously been approved by the European Commission.
“In recent years, the sponsorship of sports clubs by betting and gambling operators, as well such as advertising carried out by individual athletes, has contributed to normalising a practice that entails serious health and social risks,” Garzón stated.
“In addition, the very nature of sports betting, together with the function that athletes and clubs as social references, has especially promoted this practice among younger individuals,” he added.
Spanish media reports claim the Council of State will give clubs a grace period of up to 30 August to seek new sponsorships for the next season.
Clubs without gambling sponsors have also been sent a letter informing them of the deadline, as a means of dissuading the conclusion of similar deals.
Online media outlet Huffington Post claimed several clubs tried unsuccessfully to lobby for a three-year moratorium on all gambling sponsorships, similar to that used in the ending of tobacco advertising, citing fear of bankruptcy.
Betway holds several sponsorship deals with Spanish clubs including Alavés, Celta Vigo, Levante and Real Betis, while Marathonbet features on the shirts of Sevilla.
La Liga side Granada are sponsored by French gambling operator Winamax, while Dafabet and bwin sponsors Cádiz and Valencia respectively.
Last month, La Liga concluded a four-year sponsorship deal with Asia-facing gambling operator M88 despite expressing concerns over the proposed ban.