Scottish football chiefs have "hit back at suggestions that they are hypocrites for signing a two-year deal with betting firm Ladbrokes while players at all levels are banned from gambling on the game," according to Moira Gordon of the SCOTSMAN. Scottish Professional Football League CEO Neil Doncaster described it as "the biggest-ever
title sponsorship deal of this nature in Scotland in 125 years of the
Scottish Football League." The league has been "without a title sponsor" since Clydesdale Bank's deal expired in '13. Despite Doncaster's claims that the signing up of Ladbrokes is "hugely significant," others "dismissed the link-up as hugely inappropriate." Critics claim the deal "reeks of hypocrisy given the authorities' recent clampdown on players who have been caught gambling." Former players lashed out at the SPFL on social media, with former Ross
County and Dundee striker Sean Higgins tweeting that "the SPFL just
taking the p*** out of players now," while ex-Rangers goalkeeper Andy
Goram said, "Ironic they're fining and banning every player that has a
bet on football. Then get Ladbrokes to sponsor them. Brilliant!" Doncaster, however, is "adamant that there is no conflict of interest." He said, "I
think Ladbrokes absolutely have responsible gambling at the heart of
their philosophy and it's something we buy into" (SCOTSMAN, 5/13). The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported Doncaster claims "literally hundreds" of prospective sponsors "were rejected" before the SPFL agreed on Ladbrokes. He "believes a patient approach to title partnership has been 'vindicated.'" Doncaster: "We have had a number of approaches from a number of companies. We have talked to literally hundreds of companies and we have had a number of deals that the clubs have knocked back" (DAILY RECORD, 5/13).
