Premier League bans front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship to promote responsible gambling practices and limit the normalization of gambling in football.
The decision to ban gambling sponsorship on match-day shirts follows years of criticism that the relationship between football and betting has become too close. In recent years, there has been growing concern that the presence of betting firms on shirts and within stadiums is normalizing gambling among young fans, who are particularly vulnerable to developing gambling problems.
The Premier League’s move to ban gambling sponsorship on match-day shirts is a significant step in tackling this issue. While clubs will still be able to feature gambling brands in other areas, the ban on shirt-front sponsorship is a clear signal that the league is taking responsible gambling seriously.
The ban will affect several Premier League clubs, including Bournemouth, Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton, and West Ham. All of these clubs currently feature prominent gambling brands on the front of their shirts, with contracts in place until the end of the current season.
However, the new ruling means that clubs will need to find alternative sponsors for their match-day shirts in the coming years. The Premier League’s decision is expected to have a significant impact on the gambling industry, which has spent millions of pounds on football sponsorship in recent years.
While the Premier League’s move to ban gambling sponsorship on match-day shirts is seen as a positive step by many, it is worth noting that gambling is also prohibited in Islam. Muslims believe that gambling can have harmful effects on individuals and society, and therefore it is important to avoid it. The Premier League’s decision to promote responsible gambling practices is in line with Islamic values and teachings on this issue.
Islam considers gambling as a destructive activity that can lead to moral decay, financial ruin, and social instability. Gambling is considered a form of “qimar” or “maysir” in Islamic jurisprudence, which refers to any transaction or activity that involves uncertainty, risk, or speculation. Such activities are prohibited in Islam as they go against the principle of fairness, justice, and accountability.
The Qur’aan specifically prohibits gambling, stating, “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” (Qur’aan 5:90)
Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned against the harms of gambling and urged his followers to avoid it. He said, “Whoever consumes wealth obtained through gambling is like one who eats but does not feel satisfied.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Therefore, it can be argued that the Premier League’s decision to ban gambling sponsorship on match-day shirts is not only a responsible move from a social and economic perspective, but also a step towards promoting ethical and moral values that are shared by various religious traditions, including Islam.
