Henry McLeish blasts SPFL gambling ban stance as 'match made in hell' fuelled by financial desperation

Former First Minister Henry McLeish has hammered the SPFL for their stance on a gambling sponsorship ban - saying their lack of action is because of finances.

The English Premier League ban will bring a ban on such sponsor into force by the end of the 2025-26 season but the SPFL have confirmed they don't plan on doing the same. They have described it as a matter for each club and betting deals as 'significant source of income' for many teams.

Celtic have Dafabet on the front of their shirts, Rangers with 32Red and Unibet and Dundee United are the third top flight side by hosting QuinnCasino's name on their jersey. Former first minister McLeish insists that tobacco, alcohol and gambling firms shouldn't be in Scottish football and has identified what he believes are the SPFL's motivation. He told the BBC : "I am disappointed at the SPFL's response because it seems to be not tenable to argue that it's a matter for the clubs when indeed, as an association, they look after the general interests of football.

"I think we're in a position in Scotland where, forgive the pun, it's a match made in hell. Because quite frankly the SPFL is desperate for money and of course the gambling industry is desperate for advertising.

"So it's not a good decision on the back of what has happened in England. I cannot believe that in Scotland and the United Kingdom there are not good sponsors willing to come in to the game if the game itself could be made more attractive to those particular sponsors."

The SPFL's statement reads: “For many SPFL clubs, sponsorship from gambling companies is a significant source of income which helps to support their business models and enables investment in many of the important community activities which clubs