Chelsea Withdraws from Online Casino Shirt Sponsorship Deal Amidst Fan Backlash
Experts were stunned to learn that a club was contemplating a partnership with a wagering company that would harm its reputation.
It has been difficult for Chelsea to locate a replacement shirt sponsor for Three.
Chelsea has terminated negotiations with the online casino Stake to become the club’s new front shirt sponsor and is now in discussions with other companies.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust and other fan organizations criticized the club’s potential partnership with a betting company after it was reported that a one-year deal with Stake was close to being finalized.
After the Premier League blocked a proposed deal with Paramount over broadcasting rights, Chelsea’s efforts to secure a front-of-shirt sponsor have been hampered by a number of obstacles.
It was also reported that Chelsea’s negotiations with a company in the cryptocurrency industry had failed, and that the Blues had rejected an offer from Allianz.
Three’s sponsorship of the front of Chelsea’s shirts, which was worth an estimated £40 million per year, expires this summer.
After sanctions were imposed on former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, three sponsors came under fire from supporters’ groups for suspending their support.
Experts were shocked to learn that Chelsea was seriously considering replacing Three with Stake, arguing that the proposed agreement was insufficient to justify the reputational damage.
No reason has been given for Chelsea’s withdrawal from negotiations with Stake, but the news will be applauded by fans, the Supporters’ Trust, and anti-gambling activists.
Despite images of a company representative posing with new head coach Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday night, it is believed that Chelsea are still searching for a front-of-shirt sponsor and that it will not be Oman Air.
While it appears that Oman Air has become a partner of Chelsea in some capacity, the brand’s name and logo will not appear on the club’s uniform during the upcoming season.
Chelsea Withdraws from Online Casino Shirt Sponsorship Deal Amidst Fan Backlash
