Tom Daniels<\/p>\n
The Football Association\u2019s (FA)<\/strong>\u00a0former chief executive\u00a0Mark Palios<\/strong>\u00a0has affirmed his stance to decrease gambling sponsorships in football.<\/p>\n Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Palios explained why he refuses to accept gambling sponsorships at\u00a0Tranmere Rovers<\/strong>, a club he chairs, and how the relationship between football and the betting industry has gone \u2018too far\u2019.<\/p>\n The ex-FA boss stated: \u201cThis (Tranmere) is a family club that\u2019s firmly rooted in the community and from our perspective it\u2019s the wrong thing to do to get associated with the gambling industry. We can\u2019t change the bigger picture in terms of the football industry being involved to the extent it is but from a personal perspective that\u2019s what we do.<\/p>\n \u201cFootball has to wean itself off the position it is in at the moment \u2013 and that\u2019s the best verb I can use. It\u2019s certainly gone too far.\u201d<\/p>\n Gambling sponsorships in football has recently become a major topic of debate by spectators, businesses and the government, with a\u00a0Gambling Act<\/strong>\u00a0review currently ongoing.<\/p>\n Palios added: \u201cI see gambling as something that is pernicious. People get hooked into it and it is a hidden addiction.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see people stealing from their employers as we\u2019ve seen and it destroys relationships and fundamentally damages family units and family units are a massive part of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Betting brand sponsorships in football has grown year on year with 60% of clubs in England\u2019s top two leagues having partnerships with gambling companies. The\u00a0English Football League (EFL)<\/strong>, which runs the country\u2019s second, third and fourth divisions, also has a major sponsorship agreement with Sky Bet.<\/p>\n An EFL spokesman emphasised: \u201cThe EFL itself continues to have a successful relationship with Sky Bet who, as a responsible, properly regulated bookmaker, recognise the importance of having the right safeguards in place.\u201d<\/p>\n Palios\u2019 statements follows\u00a0Nigel Huddleston<\/strong>\u2019s appointment as minister for sport, tourism and heritage. The conservative MP,\u00a0a vocal supporter of last year\u2019s fixed-odds betting terminal (FOBT) maximum stake reduction,\u00a0has also previously expressed his concerns over the betting industry\u2019s involvement in sport.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n