Stefan Borson drops strong Brighton verdict after Tony Bloom controversy
Brighton owner Tony Bloom is embroiled in a legal dispute after a new claim has been made against him.
Brighton are widely regarded as one of the best-run clubs in the country after building a successful financial model under owner Bloom.
Brighton’s business in the transfer market has helped the club challenge for a place in the top half of the Premier League in recent years.
However, questions are now being asked about Bloom’s gambling operations.
The Times reported on 3 December the British billionaire has been accused of operating a secret £600million gambling syndicate to bet on football matches.
The allegations are included in a claim filed at London’s High Court by a former employee of Bloom’s company Starlizard through which his syndicate places some of its bets.
Tony Bloom backed after legal update
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider it’s unlikely Bloom has broken the Premier League rules.
“Well, I haven’t pulled off the particulars of claim to read what’s actually said, but look, people go around making allegations in civil litigation the whole time,” said Borson.
“It seems to me pretty unlikely that that’s been going on. It’s certainly pretty unlikely that it’s been going on to get to the point where it’s anything involved in a breach of Premier League rules.
“It sounds to me as if it’s a good headline, but probably when it either gets to court or just going forward, it’s probable I guess that it’s a bit of leverage from the claimant to try and apply pressure to try and get a settlement out of Bloom’s business.
“I will pull off the particulars because it looks like it’s quite interesting, but it just seems pretty unlikely to me.”
Bloom has been the majority shareholder in Brighton since 2009 and has helped turned them into an established Premier League club in recent years.
Brighton ban journalists after Bloom latest
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported in a separate story on 5 December Bloom was the anonymous gambler behind winnings of £52m, which allegedly included bets on Brighton.
The newspaper said the 55-year-old is claimed to be the “John Doe” referred to in a US legal case that tried to unmask who has benefited from the lucrative winning streak.
Journalists and photographers from The Guardian were banned from Brighton’s 1-1 draw against West Ham at the Amex Stadium following the allegations, which the Seagulls owner has denied.
Brighton currently sit eighth in the Premier League table under Fabian Hurzeler.
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