West Ham United have signed a new front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with BoyleSports, just as midfielder Lucas Paqueta remains at the centre of a high-profile betting probe.
According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers have signed a one-year deal with the Irish bookmaker worth £12 million to replace Betway, and it will take effect this summer.
The deal has raised eyebrows, but the timing is just as surprising. Paqueta is waiting for a verdict that could impact his long-term future.
He was charged with four counts of deliberately getting booked to influence betting markets.
He could learn his fate within the next two months, with the Football Association pushing for a life ban if he’s found guilty.
Ironically, Paqueta’s charges were triggered by West Ham’s former sponsor, Betway.
West Ham’s move has sparked backlash from campaigners who argue that football is too entangled with the gambling industry.
Will Prochaska, director of the Coalition to End Gambling Ads, didn’t hold back, accusing West Ham of losing their ‘moral compass’ by signing a deal with companies that have ‘poisoned football’.
“The modern gambling industry has poisoned football, and teams like West Ham have lost their moral compass,” he said.
“It’s a sorry indictment of football authorities that players like Paqueta get read the riot act for gambling offences whilst his club is enabled to promote dangerous gambling products to fans.
“That the club, despite this background, is replacing one gambling sponsor with another shows that they have not learned anything and are still putting corporate greed above the interest of fans.”
West Ham’s deal makes little sense, considering the Premier League wants to ban front-of-shirt betting advertisements.
It may not stop gambling companies from sponsoring clubs, but it will push their brand display to shirt sleeves or other less prominent areas.
On the surface, it seems West Ham are looking for one last payday before the changes take effect, but it’s a shameful move that doesn’t take into account the welfare and opinion of the club faithful.
Read more: West Ham to consider dropping Lucas Paqueta due to the strain of his betting case