BetVictor terminates its Isthmian amateur football profile
The Isthmian Premier League has issued a statement confirming that BetVictor has opted to terminate its title sponsorship agreement which covers its syndicated leagues.
Established in 1905, the Isthmian League is a regional men’s semi-pro football association formed by amateur clubs across London, the East and South East of England.
Last summer, Gibraltar-based bookmaker BetVictor secured a two-season deal to become the title sponsor of the Isthmian League, which is recognised as one English football’s most successful ‘feeder systems’ for amateur players seeking to turn pro.
Issuing a statement to clubs, the league said that BetVictor had triggered a ‘break clause’ to terminate its sponsorship of the ‘Northern’, ‘Southern’ and ‘Isthmian’ leagues.
The league confirmed that BetVictor had made its decision prior to COVID-19 disruptions, with the bookmaker seeking to adhere to new industry compliance and marketing standards directly attached to football sponsorships.
Following a review of its partnership, BetVictor marketing concluded ‘that the challenges faced in their first seven months outweighed the benefits they were drawing from the sponsorship’.
Noting its disappointment at BetVictor’s resignation, the Isthmian League underlined that the situation had not been helped by ‘compliance breaches’ by clubs in and outside of its league structure.
Commenting on developments, Isthmian League Chairman Nick Robinson stated: “We are very disappointed that this decision was made as it means that we are not able to develop a relationship with the sponsor. We are actively looking for a new sponsor, but are apprehensive at this time due to the general economic downturn due to COVID-19.
“We believe we have a good and marketable product which has attracted sponsors for nearly 40 years, and we hope will continue to do so once we are able to restart the League.”
Source: SBC News
