While many football teams in England are making the most of the remaining period before the ban on featured partnerships with sports betting companies in the Premier League comes into force, Chelsea have opted to heed a request from their fans and pulled out of their contract with the Stake.
The contract would be valid for the 2023/2024 season. Remembering that the ban begins to apply in the 2026 / 2027 season. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the club rejected a proposal from the online betting company, which aimed to become the new sponsor of the team
Last month, English sports media reported that Chelsea were close to agreeing a deal with the Stake, set to last for a single season. Although the official amounts have been kept secret, the expectation was that it would reach values similar to what Chelsea received from Three, of around £ 40 million a year.
However, the Blues decided to put the negotiations aside and opened negotiations with other companies. The discarding of the contract is not due to any problem with Stake, but rather the sector in which it operates, sports betting.
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Survey
A survey carried out by the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) found that 77% of Chelsea fans partially or totally reject the agreement with companies in the sports betting sector.
CST also warned that such a contract would represent a “total mockery” of the work the foundation has carried out, in particular the awareness workshops held in schools in west London about the harm caused by gambling.
“We understand Chelsea’s desire to maximize revenue streams across the club,” said CST. “While we accept this happening, it must not come at the expense of the club’s values.”
Chelsea deal would be Stake’s second in English football
Had the Stake deal gone through, the Chelsea sponsorship would have represented the company’s second in the Premier League. His first contract in the English league was signed with Everton, in 2022/2023, worth £ 10 million annually.
