Premier League seeks clubs' backing for gambling sponsor ban

The Premier League is asking clubs to support phasing out shirt sponsorship by gambling companies in a last-ditch effort to avert a government-imposed ban.

Sky News has learnt that the Premier League contacted clubs on Monday to propose a resolution that would see betting companies disappear from teams' shirts within the next three years.

Under the proposal, a voluntary ban would come into effect at the start of the new season, but would allow existing deals to run their course, providing they expire no later than the 2024-25 campaign.

The communication with the 20 top-flight clubs represents the Premier League's most concerted effort to address an issue which has drawn intense political scrutiny in recent weeks.

Under Premier League rules, support for the proposal from at least 14 clubs would see it being adopted immediately.

One club executive said they had been given just days to respond.

Sky News reported late last week that the Premier League had suggested to the government that shirt-sleeve branding should be permitted to continue indefinitely, although it was unclear if that idea was part of Monday's communication with clubs.

An executive at another club said the Premier League had indicated that the ban on betting sponsorship was intended to be permanent, but that it would be subject to a clause allowing it to be overturned with two years' notice in certain circumstances.

Perimeter advertising by gaming companies would continue to be allowed, according to one of the recipients of the proposal.

The issue is a sensitive one for English football's leading clubs because so many of them have become reliant on revenue from the gambling sector.

Almost half of Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United and West