https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53261364 They're looking at banning them. Would this be a good thing or a bad thing do we think?
They pay sums other companies can't afford, so clubs at a time when money is tighter than ever will have to accept less of an income if this happens.
While the timing is indeed a bit off, putting extra financial pressure on clubs right now wouldn't make sense, it's not that it would spell the end of football. They said the end of tobacco sponsorship would be the end of Formula 1, but that didn't happen. They can deal with having to change sponsors. They just need plenty of notice to do so. If it would suddenly disappear it would cause issues, but give everyone time to plan, and things will be fine. For a sport watched by many children, I'm amazed it's still allowed currently.
I can't bloody wait for it. Ray Winstone hovering above football, shouting 'BET BET BET' is another crap thing about today. Gambling is everywhere in football, gambling money is everywhere in football, contributing to the problems that we have with the premiership becoming a bloated corporate hellfest while the rest of the EFL and the grassroots game withers and dies. Everyone has to have a cheeky bet or a little acca on while they're at the match, and these build into addictions and dependencies as people reach to cover what they've already lost. I can't bloody stand gambling around football, the sooner they get shut the better. Should be the same as fags, booze and payday loans.
A bad thing IMO, solely in terms of football finance. I’m in a minority I think but I wanted a big name betting company sponsorship for our club and was hugely disappointed when the fanfare made by the new owners bringing in ‘improved sponsorship deals’ ended up being an existing, comparatively small fry sponsor being promoted to head sponsor after the Beckett deal ended. Spending a few quid more than them, but it would be doubtful it was by a lot. And let’s face it, if we’re talking about morality when it comes to gambling firms, there are questions to be asked about some of The Investment Room’s practices. Not exactly assisting the local folk get on the housing ladder are they? But they offered more than anyone else did presumably so they’re on the shirt. I have no issue with that. I understand the reasoning behind tobacco sponsorship being banned. But where do we draw the line? Clubs need money. You could argue beer sponsorship increases the risk of alcoholism, McDonalds and Coca-Cola sponsorship leads to obesity. The ECB were criticised for the sides in the one hundred cricket being sponsored by crisps and nuts brands. I’ve been accused on here of being a hard-left socialist. That is mostly true - I’m very happy to admit - but it is flavoured with a topping of financial realism. Capital will always be king in high level business, which is where the top levels of professional sport sits. Sponsorship should be put out to tender and the highest bidder wins.
Coates family own both, so you would expect them to be hit big time. Having said that, they could probably just put the money through a ‘new company’. Bit like the non existent taxi firm that sponsors Wendies.
You say clubs need money, but that's half of the problem. One fuels the other. It's **** like red32 or whatever they're called, paying Derby 80k a week so they can sign Wayne Rooney to be mediocre in the Championship. Why does every player have to be sold for a record-breaking price? 80m for Ronaldo ten years ago was the most anyone had ever paid, it's becoming normal. Players want more and more, so averages rise, to the point where Bournemouth's second choice left back is on 70k per week. How the hell are we supposed to compete? We're meant to start the season thinking we could get promoted, but our annual turnover wouldn't pay one Prem player's wages for a season. That's why tickets are now daft money, and Sky exploit people who don't keep on top of their subscriptions for some crazy sums. I'm just ranting now so I'm going to stop, but modern football is ******, it's been ruined by money. I'll also say I don't expect everyone to agree, and that this wasn't intended as a go at you, troff!
Soon we'll be living in a Puritan society with no thrills. No smoking, no gambling, no drinking, sex on Sundays only after you've said your prayers and make sure you wash your c ock first.
This. So long as they announce it with a sufficient lead in time that clubs can mitigate against its impact in terms of planning wages and contracts etc. then there should be no issue.
