- Chelsea has ended talks with online casino Stake for a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal and is now exploring other options
- The proposed deal with Stake drew criticism from fan groups and the Premier League’s rejection of a broadcasting rights deal added to Chelsea’s difficulties in finding a new sponsor
- Fans and anti-gambling campaigners will welcome Chelsea’s decision to withdraw from negotiations with Stake, and the club continues its search for a new front-of-shirt sponsor
Chelsea has withdrawn from talks with online casino Stake to become the club’s new front-of-shirt sponsor and is now in talks with other companies.
A one-year deal with Stake was close to being agreed, prompting criticism from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust and other fan groups about the club partnering with a betting firm.
After the Premier League blocked a proposed deal with Paramount over broadcasting rights, Chelsea has faced a number of difficulties in finding a front-of-shirt sponsor.
It was also reported that Chelsea had failed to reach an agreement with a crypto company and that the Blues had rejected an offer from Allianz.
Chelsea’s front-of-shirt sponsorship with telecommunications company Three expires this summer and is estimated to be worth £40 million per year.
Three supporters were outraged when they suspended their sponsorship after former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned.
Experts were shocked to learn that Chelsea was seriously considering replacing Three with Stake, claiming that the proposed deal was insufficient to justify the reputational damage.
No reason has been given for Chelsea’s decision to withdraw from negotiations with Stake, but the news will be welcomed by fans and the Supporters’ Trust, as well as anti-gambling campaigners.
Chelsea are still looking for a front-of-shirt sponsor, and it is unlikely to be Oman Air, despite images of a company representative posing with new head coach Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday night.
While Oman Air appears to have become a partner of some sort with Chelsea, the brand’s name and logo are not expected to appear on the club’s shirt this season.