FIFA recently sent a memo to its Member Associations reminding them of the “prohibition on gambling advertising on the shirts worn by match officials, in the video operation room and in the referee review area.”
FIFA’s memo was issued last Friday, but did not come in response to any known deals involving betting companies and referees.
The memo pinpointed the specific regulations for sponsor advertising on referee shirts and VAR. Paragraphs 1 and 4 of Article 15 read as follows:
“During matches organised under the jurisdiction of a member association, sponsor advertising may be authorised for the shirts worn by match officials. All advertising for tobacco-related products, alcoholic beverages, narcotics (ex. Marijuana) or gambling establishments (casinos or betting companies) is strictly prohibited. Any slogans of a political, racist or religious nature are also forbidden.”
“During matches utilising VAR, advertising is also permitted inside the video operations room (VOR) and on the monitor stand in the referee review area (RRA). This must follow the requirements listed in par. 1.”
The memo further added: “In line with FIFA’s statutory commitment to good governance, ethical conduct and the integrity of matches and competitions, as well as with a view to preventing any practice that might jeopardise these principles, we would like to reiterate the importance that Member Associations respect and comply with the principles of the Regulations.”
Newly Regulated Brazilian Market Could’ve Been Catalyst for Memo’s Release
FIFA’s Member Associations are spread throughout 211 countries and territories on six continents. That’s a massive constituency that can operate under different laws involving sports betting sponsorships.
Brazil, for example, is working with betting firms for the first time, following the launch of its regulated market this year. Brazilian football clubs are “cashing in on sponsorship deals, moving quickly to reap the financial benefits enjoyed by counterparts in more established markets” like the UK, France, and the US.
The lack of financial literacy with these types of deals could lead to growing pains in Brazil, and as such, it “may be one of the main countries of concern for FIFA.”
Betfair notably signed a shirt deal with Rio de Janeiro side CR Vasco da Gama, but there are no agreements between betting firms and referees on record.
The São Paulo Football Federation, for example, has “signed deals with eight different companies, none of which were betting firms.” The deals included sponsorship of referee jerseys and shorts with a reported value of approximately R$8m (€1.2m/£1m).
FIFA’s decision to circulate the memo is likely best viewed as a precautionary measure to prevent any illicit deals from being done.
Premier League in Final Season of Front-of-Shirt Sponsorships
Bally’s Corporation announced a deal this week with Premier League side Nottingham Forest Football Club to appear on the front of the club’s shirts this season. It will be one and done for Bally’s, as Premier League teams collectively agreed to a ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors starting with the 2026-27 season.
Betting sponsors have become ubiquitous in the Premier League, with 11 of 20 clubs featuring them on the front of their shirts this season.
• Aston Villa (Betano)
• Bournemouth (bj88)
• Brentford (Hollywoodbets)
• Burnley (96.com)
• Crystal Palace (Net88)
• Everton (Stake.com)
• Fulham (SBOTOP)
• Nottingham Forest (Bally’s)
• Sunderland (W88)
• WestHam United (Boyles)
• Wolverhampton (DEBET)
The Premier League will look significantly different next year after the front-of-shirt ban takes effect. Still, don’t expect betting companies to disappear altogether. The Premier League’s ban on betting sponsors does not include sleeve sponsorship. Some companies are likely to move to that position for the 2026-27 season.
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