Vuleve LaLiga! After almost ninety days, tomorrow June 11 at 10 pm the top competition returns. The day opens with one of the most exciting and expected derbies of the remainder of the season, Sevilla-Betis at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. However, everything will be different. A few weeks ago the Football Federation already advanced that there would be no fans in the stands. One of the measures adopted for the prevention and eradication of the coronavirus. At the beginning of the confinement, the Government chaired by Pedro Sánchez decreed the prohibition of advertising by gambling operators. This measure will be valid for the duration of the expected State of Alarm until June 21. How will it be applied in stadiums and how will clubs apply it?
Football kits and stadiums without advertising
Advertising of betting houses in football is prohibited. The elimination of the advertising of the bookmakers would force eight First Division teams to modify their kits during the first three days. In this way, Seville, Valencia, Leganés, Levante, Alavés, Osasuna, Mallorca and Granada should modify their usual clothing. For the moment and during this strange pre-season, soccer teams have continued to use their usual kits, including advertising. It is also to be known whether this decree will be applied in football stadiums. There is no football stadium in Spain that does not have a billboard or any other badge that promotes a bookmaker. This decision depends directly on the Ministry of Consumption, which has not yet spoken. We will be very attentive to know what happens tomorrow when Sevilla takes the field.
How does not advertising affect football?
The COVID-19 health crisis is having a great impact within the sports sector. To date, there are no studies of the economic consequences it has had on member clubs and companies. The president of the National Football League, Javier Tebas, already announced a few weeks ago that the return of football was essential, since “it represents the reactivation of a very relevant economic sector that contributes 1.37% of GDP and generates 185,000 jobs ”.
Measures to stop gambling during confinement
On March 31, the Council of Ministers approved Royal Decree-Law 11/2020. This decree included a series of prohibitions related to the promotion and commercial communication of the activities of gambling operators while the State of Alarm lasted. The aim is not to encourage gambling during confinement and thus avoid problems such as gambling. In this way and until June 21, if the Government does not pronounce on the matter, it is forbidden to send emails, attract new customers or the loyalty of regular players, bonuses, prizes, … These measures affect both television, radio and other audiovisual platforms such as YouTube or any other social network.
