Aston Villa have dismissed a campaign from their own supporters to abandon a shirt sponsorship deal with controversial online casino BK8. Christian Purslow, the club’s chief executive, met with fan groups protesting after Telegraph Sport revealed details of the new three-year arrangement.
But the club is refusing to budge despite outrage over the brand axed by Norwich City in 2021 over sexualised adverts with young women. The Aston Villa Fans Consultation Group said following the meeting that BK8 now appears certain to be “the new front-of-shirt sponsor for the next three seasons”…
The decision is a major blow for anti-gambling campaigners who had been hoping Premier League clubs would press ahead with a voluntary ban on betting shirt sponsors.
