SportPesa pulls out of Kenyan sponsorships after regulators crackdown on betting taxes
August 12 – Betting giant SportPesa has pulled the plug on all its sports sponsorships in Kenya after a prolonged tax dispute with local authorities.
Football Marketing
1xBet takes down UK site after ‘pornhub’ casino and live cockfight allegations
August 12 – Russian bookmaker 1xBet – that has rapidly established a position in the international, often unregulated, betting market – has suspended its UK betting service following reports of it operating a ‘pornhub’ casino and complaints from punters unable to cash out their winnings.
Brighton soar with £100m American Express renewal
August 12 – Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion have renewed their main sponsorship with American Express in a 12-year £100 million deal that includes the continuation of the naming rights to Brighton’s stadium as well as the financial services providers’ name on the front of the club shirt.
Leicester City cash in with Xpress Money partnership
August 9 – Xpress Money have become Premier League Leicester City’s official money transfer partner.
Barca and Sony Music combine for deal focussed on content and events
August 8 – Big brands attract each other. FC Barcelona have signed a two-year collaboration agreement with Sony Music that will focus on the creation of entertainment experiences.
Lotus accelerate international brand push with Norwich City deal
August 8 – Premier League returnees Norwich City have announced car manufacturer Lotus as a club partner in a new multi-year deal.
Lil-Lets sign one-season deal with Everton Ladies
August 8 – The sponsorship roster of brands getting into women’s football has been added to by feminine hygiene brand Lil-Lets who have signed a one-season deal with Everton Ladies.
English FA to launch OTT platform with Women’s Super League games live
August 7 – The English FA will launch a new over-the-top platform that will provide free live coverage of every Women’s Super League game from the start of the 2019/20 season.
GVC brands pass football sponsorship inventory to Bet Regret campaign
August 6 – Gaming and betting giant GVC Holdings is donating club sponsorship assets from 42 to its UK clubs to GambleAware’s ‘Bet Regret’ campaign.
Leasing.com takes title sponsorship of EFL Trophy in 3-year deal
August 6 – The English Football League has announced Leasing.com as the title sponsor of the EFL trophy, its cup competition that sees League One and League Two clubs compete with Premier League U-21 teams.
Bullish eToro trades up with Everton and Aston Villa deals
August 6 – Trading platform eToro has added Everton and Aston Villa to its sponsorship roster, taking the number of Premier League teams it has deals with to six, including Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Southampton and Spurs.
Warner’s Trinidad claim reopens old wounds of FIFA’s dodgy Caribbean TV dealing
By Paul Nicholson
August 5 – The court filing in Trinidad by Jack Warner claiming that the Trinidad and Tobago FA owes him TT$15,761,003 ($2.3 million) has sparked the re-opening of an old claim by Selby Browne and his CSTN broadcast company over Caribbean TV rights – rights that Warner sold to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) for $4.25 million.
Lagardere banks on bumper $400m beIN deal to make up bulk of CAF guarantee
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 5 – beIN Sports, the international pay-tv broadcaster, financed by the government of Qatar, is officially the number one financial partner of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Real Sociedad secure Reale Seguros for naming rights to refurbed stadium
August 5 – Basque club Real Sociedad has signed a reported six-season €9 million stadium naming rights deal with insurance company Reale Seguros.
Man City and Yokohama combine for Melco partnership
August 2 – Manchester City have returned from their Japan pre-season jaunt with a new sponsor. Melco Resorts & Entertainment is to become the club’s Official Partner in Japan in a deal that also covers City’s sister club in Japan, Yokohama F. Marinos.