Bet365 Football Storm Worsens
The Football Association in the UK is facing a backlash of criticism after allowing football matches were streamed on a gambling website.
The FA Cup broadcasting rights are to be reviewed after 23 third -round football matches were streamed on the app and website of bet365.
But the FA has defended the move saying that the rights were sold by a third party after a deal was signed prior to its changed policy on bookmakers.
The bet365 company has come under fire too as customers who wanted to watch the matches were forced to place a wager or pay £5 to sign up to the site, before viewing could be accessed.
The FA ended its relationship with Ladbrokes in June 2017 and said it would quit entering into sponsorship deals with gambling companies.
A spokesperson for the FA responded to criticism: “The FA agreed a media rights deal with IMG in early 2017, part of which permits them to sell the right to show live footage or clips of FA Cup matches to bookmakers.
“Bet365 acquired these rights from IMG to use from the start of the 2018/19 season. The deal was agreed before we made a clear decision on the FA’s relationship with gambling companies in June 2017 when we ended our partnership with Ladbrokes.”
It has now emerged that Bet365 has been showing matches since the start of last season.
The FA governing body is to now review the terms of the deal with IMG, the third party that sold the rights to Bet365, when the contract expires after the end of next season.
The third-round matches which kicked off last weekend marked the Heads Up campaign, a joint initiative between the FA and the charity, Heads Together, spearheaded by the Duke of Cambridge.
The campaign highlights the importance of maintaining mental fitness as well as physical fitness.
Somewhat ironic considering the World Health Organisation classified gambling addiction as a mental illness in May last year.
All fixtures other than the 10 that kicked off at 3.01pm on Saturday were screened live by Bet365, including Liverpool’s derby against Everton and Arsenal versus Leeds.
The scheme came to the attention of campaigners after Bet365 heavily promoted the matches on social media, offering tips on potential “cupsets”.
National Mental Health Director for the NHS, Claire Murdoch, heavily criticised the Bet365’s motives and said “Bet to view is simply wrong and needs to stop” adding that it encourages more gambling problems.
