Spain lambasts La Liga clubs over “reckless” gambling sponsorships
Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzón takes aim at top-flight teams for signing bookmaker deals ahead of ad ban
Spain’s consumer affairs minister has criticised La Liga clubs for flouting an impending ban on gambling sponsorships in football.
Alberto Garzón expects his Royal Decree, including restrictive regulation on gambling marketing, to become law by October once it passes review in the European Commission and Spain’s Council of State.
Speaking to Cadena Ser, Garzón bemoaned “reckless” La Liga clubs for extending and agreeing lucrative front-of-shirt deals with gambling firms.
Garzón said: “It is coming out that clubs change their sponsorship and sign for bookmakers. This is very important, everyone will have to change.
“Some have exercised responsibility by cancelling them, others have shown recklessness by renewing for three years with bookmaker companies. They have done it knowing that this prohibition will exist from October,” he added.
Galician side Celta Vigo and Andalusian outfit Real Betis have inked new deals with bookmaker Betway ahead of the new season, while newly promoted Cádiz CF sealed a two-year agreement with Dafabet.
French operator Winamax also signed a two-year extension with Granada despite the impending legislation.
Along with banning front-of-shirt sponsorships in football, Garzón’s bill will also maintain the horario de madrugada window of 1am to 5am for advertising across television, radio and online, leaving operators with slim pickings for their marketing efforts.
The decree will further prohibit clubs from handing stadium or training ground naming rights to gambling operators.
Garzón went on to praise clubs including Real Sociedad for steering clear of gambling firms.
Garzón said: “[Clubs] must understand that football teams perform a social function, it is reckless. Children want to be footballers and they take them as a reference. This social function was well understood by clubs such as Real Sociedad, which decided not to reach agreements for this type of sponsorship.”
Despite Osasuna cutting ties with Kirolbet and Real Mallorca (Betfred) and Leganés (Betway) being relegated, the number of La Liga clubs with front-of-shirt betting brands remains at eight.
Betway holds a stable of Alavés, Celta Vigo, Levante and Real Betis, while Marathonbet features on the shirts of Sevilla.
Valencia is sponsored by GVC-owned brand bwin as Granada (Winamax) and Cádiz (Dafabet) take the total to eight.
Elsewhere, William Hill is reportedly in sponsorship talks with Segunda División side Málaga.