Huddersfield Town fined £50k for Paddy Power kit stunt
The FA described the decision to wear the novelty jersey as “irresponsible in the current climate regarding gambling”
Huddersfield Town has been fined £50,000 by the English Football Association (FA) for wearing its controversial Paddy Power kit in a pre-season friendly.
The jersey, which featured a giant Paddy Power sash and caused commotion on social media, breached advertising regulations, according to football’s governing body.
Paddy Power yesterday poured scorn on the ruling by comparing Huddersfield’s fine to the fee that Millwall were ordered to pay when the club’s fans were found guilty of racism.
1st August:
The FA fine Millwall £10,000 for supporters’ racist chanting.5th September:
The FA fine Huddersfield Town £50,000 for wearing a fake shirt in a pre-season friendly.— Paddy Power (@paddypower) September 5, 2019
The FA’s report into the incident revealed that Huddersfield chairman Phil Hodgkinson had asked the referee to ban the club from wearing the shirt before the match kicked off.
Huddersfield also said they did not think the FA’s kit regulations applied to friendlies, but the commission said the move was in “blatant disregard” for the rules.
“The club’s motives were financial, deliberately running the risk of being charged,” wrote the commission.
“The decision not to wear the sash shirt was one the club should have made; it should not have tried to hide behind the referee.
“Involving the referee in that way was wrong and also not an insignificant aggravating factor. The referee displayed commendable judgment in the face of such conduct.”
The FA added: “The decision to enlarge the advertisement in such an overt manner was irresponsible, particularly in the current climate regarding gambling.”
The Huddersfield kit stunt was part of Paddy Power’s Save Our Shirt marketing campaign.