Belgian football clubs face stricter rules on gambling sponsorships
Belgian football clubs Club Brugge and Anderlecht may be forced to print new shirts after the Gambling Commission tightened rules on gambling sponsorship visibility, Het Nieuwsblad writes.
Since 1 January, gambling company logos have been restricted to the back of shirts and must not exceed 75cm². However, Club Brugge and Anderlecht have displayed oversized sponsor logos. The clubs argue that only the lettering, not the surrounding space, should be measured.
In response, the Gambling Commission has clarified that the entire logo, including spaces and graphics, must fit within the limit. Clubs exceeding the size restriction risk heavy fines.
Bypassing rules
Meanwhile, loopholes in the ban on front-of-shirt gambling ads remain controversial. Some clubs have attempted to bypass the rules by modifying sponsor names.
Club Brugge, for example, changed Unibet to U Experts, and Cercle Brugge switched from Golden Palace to Golden Palace News.
The issue has deepened divisions within Belgium’s new federal government. The liberal MR party, led by Georges-Louis Bouchez, defends the clubs’ right to use “derived” sponsor names and argues that the law does not explicitly ban such adaptations.
Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke of socialists Vooruit takes the opposite stance. He calls for tighter regulations to close loopholes. Justice minister Annelies Verlinden of Christian democrats CD&V, who co-signed the original ban, also supports stricter enforcement.
However, responsibility for implementation now lies with Economy minister David Clarinval of MR. This raises concerns that the restrictions could be weakened under his oversight.
Hans Vanaeken’s Club Brugge shirt, sponsored by Unibet © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
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