Several Everton fans have celebrated the club’s recent confirmation that they will be ending their sponsorship agreement with SportPesa early this summer.
The Toffees reached an agreement for SportPesa to replace Chang as their primary sponsor in 2017, signing a five-year contract with the Kenyan sports betting company, said to be worth around £7 million per year.
Everton’s decision to terminate the deal with SportPesa two years earlier than originally agreed originates from a strategic review of the club’s commercial operations, conducted by Everton CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale.
Barrett-Baxendale had also admitted during the club’s AGM last month that “in an ideal world”, Everton would prefer a different sponsor, amid concerns over the influence of gambling and sports betting sponsors.
SportPesa have provoked the ire of the Everton fan base on a number of occasions too, sharing a congratulatory tweet with Arsenal after the Gunners beat Everton 5-2 in 2017, while also sharing a Danny Ings goal against Everton in 2018 after he scored in a Southampton win over the Blues.
Following the news that Everton will be looking elsewhere for shirt sponsorship going forward, a number of supporters have praised the club for calling off the current deal.
Twitter: @Everton Good. Every club should disassociate themselves from any betting platforms. About time we binned these off. (@KenThom3180)
Twitter: @Everton Good work. Now go and get a sponsor that we can put on our kid’s shirts ! (@leigh_mcgrath)
Twitter: @Everton A good step towards ending betting in football. My club (@Tommos_16)
Twitter: Good news. Let’s be honest, it’s been a nightmare. #EFC https://t.co/QOVSvVSYCl (@daviddownie17)
Twitter: @Everton Yesssss finally (@EvertonDesigns)
