The Fulham Supporters’ Trust annual survey has found that 46% of fans are uncomfortable with BetVictor as the club’s main sponsor, with 22% refusing to buy the club’s shirt as a result of the partnership with the betting firm.
Fulham announced a two-year deal with BetVictor in September, and the company’s logo now features on the men’s and women’s first teams’ shirts as well as on all adult replicas.
The news comes ahead of a Premier League shareholders meeting where the future of betting sponsorship in the top-flight will be discussed. The UK government launched a review into the 2005 Gambling Act late last year, and it is thought a blanket ban on shirt sponsorship could be under consideration.
The review’s call for evidence will come to an end on 31 March, with reports suggesting that a blanket ban on gambling shirt sponsorship could come to fruition.
FANS SURVEY RESULTS 2021
? Significant negative impact to mental health of fans due to not being able to attend matches
?Half want to see gambling sponsorship banned from football
?Less than 1 in 4 paid for PPVFull results here: https://t.co/XH3mXd0bEZ
Watch the video ? pic.twitter.com/NQsDsuEl3a— FST (@FulhamSuppTrust) March 25, 2021
Fulham had been without a shirt sponsor for their Premier League return after their deal with Dafabet expired at the end of the 2019/20 Championship season, when the West London club secured promotion via the playoffs.
The financial terms of Fulham’s agreement with BetVictor have not been made public, but their two-year contract with Dafabet, which the club described as a record at the time, was reported to be worth UK£3 million (US$3.9 million) a year.
Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh said: “BetVictor shares our passion for success and we hope to develop our relationship further throughout the duration of the partnership, in order to achieve and exceed our goals.”
