Finance guru: Man City may have ‘legal issues’ amid Russian controversy
There may be “legal issues” which are preventing Man City from scrapping their deal with Russia-backed sponsor Marathonbet.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about City’s links to the controversial bookmaker.
City embarked on a sponsorship deal with Marathonbet in the summer of 2018 and announced a training kit branding tie-in 18 months later.
The betting giants are one of just 20 gambling platforms approved by the authoritarian state in Russia.
A club source reportedly told The Guardian last on 9 April that the deal is now “coming to an end” in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
But Marathonbet still features on City’s 50-strong list of official commercial partners, while club branding still appears on the bookmaker’s website.
Plumley suggests that legal red tape may mean the reigning Premier League champions have been so far unable to scrap the deal.
“It’s a tough one,” the Sheffield Hallam University told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Other clubs have done it, so why can’t City do it? That’s what some people will be asking.
“These things are never straightforward and there will be legal issues wrapped up in this.
“Do City really need this sponsor in the grand scheme of things? Probably not.
“Also, a lot of their other sponsors are taking centre stage at the moment because of the Der Speigel stuff.
“This has probably gone under the radar a little bit as a result. But people are always going to ask why they haven’t done it quicker.
“However, there may well be legal issues in this as well. It’s impossible to say for certain.”
City recorded £271.7million in commercial income for 2020-21.
Pep Guardiola’s side hold a one-point lead atop the Premier League and are into the Champions League semi-finals.
In other news, Danny Mills suggests Man City may have offered Fernandinho “derogatory” new contract as Pep Guardiola “shocked”.