IT is an interesting take on the relationship between Scottish football and the betting industry that the breakdown between Ladbrokes and the FA is explained away as something they can afford to engineer, while, in Scotland, we have to ignore principles and even the moral arguments because we are cash-strapped.
To use the gambling analogy, we have gone all-in by accepting nothing but profits from gaming to fund our three major football competitions.
For me, it is a high-risk strategy. A change in legislation, regarding advertising, and we’d be back to rattling our collection tin. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the bookies – or gaming platforms to give them a more acceptable title – have cash to spend. But that has nothing to do with charity. It is for marketing their brand, so they can attract more punters.
Yes, AEGON support tennis, we have the Emirates FA Cup and Virgin Money backs the London marathon. I doubt those sponsors are interested in football up here. But surely there has to be other brands that would halt our dependency on the betting companies.
However, unlike England, who have had second thoughts on this partnership, deciding it is impossible to police footballers, we live with the collateral damage and point the finger at those who haven’t adhered to the law, such as Ian Black, Michael Moffat, Steven Lawless and Dean Brett.
We are no different to England. We just appear to look at the profit margins rather than the damage done.
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