Fans fume at the National League as a statement is released on Friday, just a day before the 2021/22 season’s opening weekend begins.
A new term means some new sponsors, and this time it’s Unibet and 32Red who come in to become The National League’s new Betting Partners.
In recent years, betting has come under some scrutiny for ruining certain parts of the game that we all love whether it’s kits, or even the constant adverts we see on our TV.
New signing 😏📝
We are delighted to be partnering with Unibet and 32Red for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons! 🤝
➡️ https://t.co/fyEL7HuslN pic.twitter.com/cOnIbad3v6
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) August 20, 2021
LEAGUE STATEMENT:
The National League are pleased to announce 32Red and Unibet as the Official Betting Partners of the Vanarama National League.
A two-year partnership has been agreed with parent company Kindred Group, covering both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
32Red and Unibet operate across Europe, including a wide variety of sponsorships within the domestic and international game. The brands will feature across the Competition’s digital channels, stadium advertising and in match day programmes.
Mark Ives, General Manager for the National League said, “The National League is thrilled to welcome the Kindred Group’s Unibet and 32Red brands as our official Betting Partner.
“We are excited to be working with an organisation who want to prioritise fan and community projects and gambling awareness, which is absolutely perfect timing, as we welcome back supporters in greater numbers than we have been able to over the last 18-or-so months.
“That period has been extremely challenging for us all and so we are very welcoming of this partnership for at least the next 2-years.”
Neil Banbury, UK General Manager, Kindred Group, added: “This is a hugely important day for everyone connected with the Kindred Group – we are excited and proud to be The National League’s official Betting Partner.
“Simply, non-league football is the lifeblood of our national sport. The elite level can only exist if the base of the pyramid thrives – and we hope that our investment will help to support that. At the heart of this are the supporters, of course, with their unwavering loyalty.
“The last year-and-a-half has shown us how vital they are to the clubs and to their communities. That is why we’ll be making sure that supporters see and feel a benefit from our sponsorship of their league. More broadly, Kindred remains committed to reinventing the sports sponsorship model – because we want a model that benefits the wider community.”
This community-first approach is in line with the Kindred’s sponsorship of Derby County, Rangers and Middlesbrough, for example. These clubs benefit from six-figure funding to run the Team Talk initiative – a platform that uses the club and its staff, including players and manager, as a mechanism to engage with men about their mental well-being.
More broadly, the Kindred Group broke new ground earlier in 2021 by becoming the first gambling operator to disclose the share of revenue derived from harmful gambling. Kindred has set an ambition to reach zero per cent of revenue from harmful gambling by the end of 2023 and report this on a quarterly basis.
The purpose is to be transparent with data and raise awareness on what needs to be done to prevent high-risk gambling in society. For the second quarter of 2021, the share of revenue from harmful gambling was 4.3%
To celebrate the announcement, Kindred will be giving away tickets for National League matches on Saturday 4th September – which is an International Fixtures weekend – with fan competitions and giveaways set to be a feature throughout the partnership. Details will be confirmed very shortly.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
SEE MORE: Publicity stunt backfires as fans left unhappy with Vanarama’s Twitter post
As mentioned, fans fume at the National League as their statement is released, see what everyone had to say on it below…
What an godawful decisionhttps://t.co/7iMaHQzwoC
— FA Cup Factfile (@FACupFactfile) August 20, 2021
@LiamDHFC: Another unnecessary sponsor forced on clubs even though it will be against the ethics and values of the club. Players and staff cannot bet on football but the league has a betting sponsor, how hypocritical
@alaninknutsford: All football bets should be subjected to a small % tax with proceeds to lower league clubs. Betting companies still made their millions in the pandemic whilst clubs struggled to make ends meet with no gate receipts.
@FellofFalorry: Integrity would be a better look.
@dh5603: Scumbags for doing that
@ItsLennnn: Why would you be delighted to announce this? Seems like you should say ‘we’re ashamed to announce that we sold out to the highest bidder.’
@Macca_Hamlet: Pitiful. Shame on you (yet again).
@graham2508: Disgusting partnering with gambling companies another very poor call .Just be aware that you are influencing young people who watch the national league. Shame on you !
@AlHol_: If you cant have cigarette companies as sponsors because it’s an industry that thrives off of addicts and people who have a mental illness why is it okay to brandish gambling firms about???
@MaximusOwen: Why does a football league require a betting partner? You’ve already got a title sponsor.
@terrykeating: Diabolical choice. So many lives & relationships ruined by gambling. Selling your soul to the 😈 for a few extra quid. Shame on you.
@DaveSmithy_: Delighted? Should the statement not read: ‘we have been offered an amount of cash which sustains the running of the league, regrettably this is with sponsorship from 2 gambling companies. Hopefully this will reduce the bullshit fines for covid related postponements’
@NeilHopkinson11: Couldn’t you find a less amoral partnership?
@Jonbennett8Jon: Piss poor.
@haikyoneko: This is not good.
@NickWe66: Wonderful. Football could do with giving more prominence to the often overlooked gambling industry. Shame on you. #poundofflesh
@lupidigateshead: Disgraceful
@hatt3rs1988: Joke.
@DrewDiamondHFH: Irresponsible.
@TheBHAlbion: How backwards, bad decision this.
@ShotInTheHeart1: A great shame.
@MrFish82: 😏🤮😡
@AgainstLeague3: Grim.
@cat_daisy: You don’t need any betting partner – get rid!
@UTM_Mariners: Not just one, but two gambling sites. Oh dear. 😬
@TrailOfDebt: Sometimes it really is hard to tell whether the Vanarama National League is actually real or just some kind of Streatham Rovers-style parody
@lmtinkler: National league ahead of the curve as always #FootballsGamblingAddiction
@IFaustus: Money over morals. Expect nothing less from football administrators.
@Dazzla84_SSFC: Proof the National League have zero ethics and just refuse to learn from the fuore the Trident leagues got when they signed up with BetVictor The National League @TheVanaramaNL
@davebaff: The National League, gambling with clubs’ futures in association with Unibet.
— Lewes FC Men (@LewesFCMen) August 20, 2021
Seriously!?
Young men are dying due to gambling addiction.
Young kids are being bombarded with betting messages.
Footballers are under strict rules to never place a bet.
And yet someone thought these partnerships were a good idea.
End this now. https://t.co/FtkX8fFLAY#parkthebus https://t.co/8ZGGRZGu9s— Lewes FC Men (@LewesFCMen) August 20, 2021
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