Football Index Facebook ad banned by ASA
Stock exchange ordered to change marketing material after using teenage footballers in online ads
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a Football Index advert on Facebook for using teenage footballers to promote the gambling stock exchange.
The paid-for ad, seen on Facebook in May 2019, used a picture of 19-year-old England footballer Jadon Sancho to explain how Football Index works.
A complainant noticed that Sancho, along with other players in the ad, including Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Kylian Mbappé, were under 25 and argued the ad was irresponsible.
Is there an English player more exciting than Jadon Sancho right now?
#FootballIndex #FICommunity #BVB #Sancho pic.twitter.com/8l1bNFvIlr
— Football Index (@FootballIndex) March 1, 2019
CAP advertising code states that no-one who is, or appears to be, under 25-years-old should play a significant role in gambling marketing communications. There is an exception if player is directly involved in the market being promoted, i.e Sterling to score next.
The ASA ruled the ad must not appear again in its current form, in part because no specific market was being promoted.
“The individual may only be used to illustrate specific betting selections where that individual is the subject of the bet offered,” said the ASA.
Football Index integrated Nasdaq’s exchange technology in July.