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The Premier League has postponed a vote on a voluntary ban on shirt sponsorship by gambling companies as the political crisis in Westminster threatens to delay crucial industry reforms.
Sky News has learnt that the Premier League on Thursday emailed the 20 top-flight clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, to inform them that a deadline to give their backing for curbs had been scrapped.
Instead, the proposals will be discussed at a previously scheduled shareholder meeting on 26 July, according to club executives.
The delay comes within hours of Chris Philp, the gambling minister, resigning alongside dozens of colleagues as they tried to force Boris Johnson from office.
Mr Philp had been due to unveil a white paper on gambling reform in the coming weeks, with the threat of legislation to eliminate gambling brands appearing on Premier League shirts still on the table.
One industry source said the delay might be interpreted as an attempt by anti-gambling campaigners to exploit the crisis which has engulfed Mr Johnson and his administration.
On Monday, Sky News revealed that the Premier League was seeking clubs’ support for a voluntary ban that would see betting companies disappear from teams’ shirts within the next three years.
Under the proposal, a voluntary ban would come into effect at the start of the coming season but would allow existing deals to run their course, providing they expired no later than the 2024-25 campaign.
One club executive said there was a wish for further discussion about the plans before being put to a vote.
Premier League rules mean that approval from at least 14 clubs is required for a vote to be approved.
An executive at another club said the Premier League had indicated that the ban on betting sponsorship was intended to be permanent, but that it would be subject to a clause allowing it to be overturned with two years’ notice in certain circumstances.
Perimeter advertising by gaming companies would…
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Source : skynews
