As my colleague, Mike Jones, has previously reported, implementation of the House of Lords Select Committee's recommendation that gambling advertising should be banned in nearly all sports is likely to have a serious impact on the finances of many football clubs, especially those who are members of the English Football League.
In the latest development, the EFL's chairman has warned of a catastrophe for smaller clubs already devoid of revenue from spectators because of the pandemic and has stated the league's determination to make the case against a ban.
In light of the growing clamour against the presence of gambling advertisements in football and other sports, it may be the case that by highlighting the plight of a number of clubs and combining forces with its betting sponsors, the EFL's best hope is to persuade the government to limit the extent of restrictions or to push for a delay to the introduction of a ban.
Rick Parry, chairman of the English Football League, has warned that a ban on gambling sports sponsorship would be “catastrophic” for smaller clubs already struggling to survive because of the pandemic.