Norwich City have distanced themselves from inappropriate social media content by new shirt sponsors BK8, claiming that “these posts do not align with Norwich City values” amid calls for the deal to be cancelled on the day of its inception.
There seems, however, to be no plan on the club’s part to take any further action.
Investigative City fans were quick to find images of dressed down models on the official Instagram account of the club’s new principal partners, along with alarming and unprofessional content on various outlets, including a Twitter bio which until recently read ‘💯 follow back’ and YouTube videos with provocative imagery.
A club official told MyFootballWriter that the club were unaware of the offensive content until fans brought it to their attention shortly after the deal was announced, prompting the promise that the club would be “reviewing its due diligence process.”
In response to the controversy a club spokesman said: “Norwich City are aware of a series of marketing posts across the social media accounts of our new principal partners, BK8.
“The club worked swiftly with BK8 to remove the posts following the announcement of the new partnership. These posts and marketing do not align with the wider Norwich City vision and values and we will be reviewing our due diligence process going forward.”
BK8 released a statement saying: “Following concerns and issues raised by Norwich City Football Club and its supporters following our announcement this morning, BK8 would like to wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused by our historical marketing.
“We accept that this form of marketing isn’t befitting of a Premier League partnership. We have immediately removed all marketing material of this nature and will conduct a review of our marketing strategy moving forward.”
The Malta-based firm are set to become the third gambling brand to sponsor City shirts, following Swedish betting firm LeoVegas and Philippine company Dafabet.
Recent club gambling sponsorships, which will have been in place for a total five years by the end of the 2021/22 season, continue to divide fans as they weigh up the ethical dilemma with the increased budget provided.
MyFootballWriter understands that BK8 offered millions of pounds more than any other bidder. Chief Operating Officer Ben Kensell has repeatedly highlighted the increased revenue gambling sponsorship provides, stating that the club’s highest bidders have, as in this case, repeatedly been betting firms.
Kensell, speaking to the club website following the announcement of the BK8 deal, said: “The [gambling and online gaming] industry continues to provide a valuable source of revenue to the club that makes a meaningful difference to our wider objectives as a club.”
He did, however, highlight that “both the club and BK8 are committed to supporting the ongoing review into betting and sports sponsorship.
“The club continues to adhere to both an internal code of conduct, as well as the policies and guidelines put in place by the Betting & Gaming Council.”
Also worth noting is the fact that City and BK8 have teamed up for one year only, perhaps hinting at caution over potential new regulations that could ban gambling sponsorship in sport after the review.
It is as yet undecided whether City’s women’s team will be sponsored by BK8.
News of issues with the new sponsors took yesterday morning from bad to worse for Canaries fans, who had already been hit with the news that a deal had been agreed on the sale of Emi Buendia to Aston Villa, with a medical on Wednesday set to push the deal over the line officially.
After a difficult start to an important summer, attentions turn to making amends for Stuart Webber and co, Buendia’s sale boosting hopes for a summer of strong investment while fans demand an explanation of the scandal that’s ensued from City’s recent announcement.
“City and BK8 have teamed up for one year only….” Reasons other than potential legislation are much more likely. A betting firm specialises in assessing form and grading likely outcomes.
Maybe BK8 should release some ‘beef cake’ photos so the ladies team will feel okay about wearing the logo. And the club are thinking about changing the badge, perhaps BK8 can help with that. Onwards and upwards, the sex genie escaped the lamp a long long time ago.
It is simply stunning that the club’s marketing department did not do due diligence on this company. It is an embarassing episode and makes the club look amateurish. The contract is signed now and it would cost a fortune to pay it back. I also find it surprising that this must have got past the board of directors. The timing could not have been worse. We badly need some good news as Norwich fans.
Regardless of the images, you can’t claim to be a community club then advertise a gambling company.
All this talk of inclusivity and diversity is purely to keep the Twitter mob at arms length.
Actions speak louder than words.
“Regardless of the images, you can’t claim to be a community club then advertise a gambling company.”
Says who? And why?
I appreciate that not everybody’s comfortable with gambling companies sponsoring anything, and you may have personal or family reasons for not wanting to see it.
I occasionally dabble in a few shares, and also for family reasons would never invest in the tobacco industry despite the attractive dividends. There may be others who would not want to see a brewery sponsoring people.
That’s fine for all of us. But trying to impose that on everyone else with spurious logic is not.
News now Norwich relies on advertising and the first advert I have seen this morning on the site is for tee shirts one of which was inappropriate. It’s everywhere you look on mainstream media, social media television advertising gets more blatant by the day. So yes Norwich have been caught out, does that make them bad people? No it doesn’t. It makes hypocrites of us . One and all.
Does make a mockery of the recent survey. They wanted to know how we thought the club was perceived and how it could improve its image in the public eye, then they land this on us. Unbelievable.
You mean the weighted survey they provided? Decisions have already been made before the survey went out. You could tell by the weighted questions.
I think in advertising and pr circles its called a 5hit sandwich. Whereby you slip a bad news story between 2 good news story. Norwich city have done it in reverse but with no good news to separate the 5hit.
Predictably the social media and forums and last night the airwaves were full of outrage.
Let’s get it right, the new “partner” isn’t particularly edifying. The money on offer isn’t clean as would befit our brand. After all, we’ve been telling anyone who would listen for years that our “model” is more ethical and indeed holier than thou than the rest of sport put together.
Constant virtue signalling and backing for whatever cause celebre added to a self deprecating little old norwich moniker. We’re harmless and oh so virtuous.
Apart that is from when the mask slips and we stiff supporters with rotten mbership schemes, astronomical ticket prices for fa cup games and other faux pas which occasionally come to light.
Our model relies totally on the maximising of every available revenue stream. The ownership have opted out of the rat race and contribute nothing to the coffers, unlike virtually all of our peers who can rely on help from that quarter.
Dirty foreign money comes in many guises. On one hand misogynist gambling companies, on the other from the shady owners of multiple football clubs. Any number of whom have recently been linked with some of our players. Does anyone really believe there aren’t skeletons rattling around the cupboards of some of the multitude of club owners with whom we’ve flogged prized assets to?
Likewise foreign investment into Norwich city fc.
Having seen on other forums some ghastly comments, including one enlightened soul basically campaigning in the most unpleasant manner for the sacking of an employee he deems responsible I’m disillusioned with Norwich city fc and a chunk of its support.
To sum up ncfc are not whiter than white, community based ethical eco warriors swimming against the tide of commercialism and unpleasant truths in modern football, unless it suits their narrative
They are simply a football club. Self funding means occasionally having to embrace the unpalatable, simply to stay miles behind a growing number of our competitors. It’s the price one has to pay.
Spot on Chris. Nailed it.
Good stuff, Sam. I’m quite proud of the response from the Norwich supporter base on this issue. Even if there is no real action from the club – the contractual issues would be immense, I suspect – the groundswell of opinion and outcry created will have been noticed and respected across the footballing world. For that we can be proud.
Two other small points:
1. Would all other clubs’s supporters have reacted in this way – or would they have clammed up and taken the money?
2. Companies who promote gambling and female objectification aren’t the only non-wholesome sponsors in the game. Companies who promote alcohol, global-warming hurrying air transporters, and conglomerates with fingers in many pies including countries with continuing human rights abuses should surely be subject to the same scrutiny and opprobrium. (*Cups hand to ear to listen carefully for evidence of this happening…*) No, can’t hear a thing… – can you?
Isn’t this all just an over the top reaction? It is a betting company which uses attractive girls to sell products- if you’re offended don’t go to their website. Why is everyone always offended or a victim these days? You can’t complain that we are run as a business that needs to sell our best assets one day and the next we should be avoiding lucrative sponsorship deals…
Can we complain about both?
Haha- certainly! Just like I complain about the outrage/ reaction. Let’s hope for a couple of good signings to change the narrative a bit in the coming days.
It is a complete disaster Samuel.
For once I do not believe the club didn’t know about these young ladies. I think the money is probably so big they just thought they will ride it out.
Unlike it seems a lot of my male colleagues I love the fact more and more women are attending football matches. My wife has accompanied me for years. Female attendance has helped get rid of a lot of the totally ludicrous macho male behaviour I used to witness years ago from boys/men that would fall over at a gust of wind.
And Teresa knows a hell a lot more about football than one of my brother-in-laws who hates women having anything to do with football. Teresa calls him a knuckle dragger.
The trouble is this betting firm will enforce stereotypes of women in football and a lot of sport for that matter.
Stereotypes of women. Your version of what a woman should be is not the same as the real world. Some women love dressing this way.
I’m not saying I endorse it, but then I don’t hide behind inclusivity and diverse. Women should be able to dress how they like.
Just a thought on another unwise side to this, who on earth thought it a good idea to get John Terry to advertise BK8 ?
After his treatment of Anton Ferdinand ? Unbelievable.
Thank god we don’t have a foreign owner. We don’t want that dirty foreign money in our club!
Dear me.
I’ve been saying it for years, we will take money from anyone except the owners. Yet fans still lap it up as “self funded”.
Didn’t they realise what the reaction to this was likely to be? Credibility destroyed I’m afraid.
I’m not going into the rights & wrongs of pc, wokeism or whatever you want to call it these days and I’m not easily offended but there’s a limit, even for a traditional old geezer like me.
I certainly won’t be buying anything with this company’s logo on it.
As someone who works in PR, have to say this is a total cock-up (am I allowed to say that MFW?)
I’m not fussed personally, but totally understand why some fans are unhappy and for a club that prides itself on community links, some more due diligence should have been done.
I guess this could get worse for the club, if merchandise sales are hit, be interesting to see what happens next.
Probably safest to go back to having good old Colman’s mustard as sponsors.
Hi Segura
As for Colmans I guess Honingham is good enough to count as local these days 🙂
How much crap would have hit the fan if Gold and Sullivan had taken over the club as was rumoured before the purchased WHU.
A Saucy Knicker salesman and the King of the Top Shelf Mags but at least they spend money on players
I won’t be buying any new kit , but because of the gambling association.
Having said that its a spectacular own goal for ‘a family club’.
There’s bigger stuff going on, let’s not get this out of proportion.
Not the best but, tobacco, booze, etc all been ok to use back in the day, gambling a curse but this is 2021, the adult images are seen on TV dramas and reality shows all the time.
A couple of signings and it will soon decline. Fans moan we don’t spend enough well, we’ve got to make it in the first place. Good that its being debated but not anything like as bad as many seem to think..
Perhaps well do another deal with the slogan, ” Something for the weekend Sir?”
Life moves on.,the Euros will provide the distraction needed.
Yes; it’s certainly stirred up the proverbial hornets’ nest, but surely this “holier than thou” attitude of some of the fan base is a little bit OTT??
I’m 67, and a season ticket holder with my wife. We are both very proud of the number of female fans who attend The Carra, and will not be buying any NCFC branded gear which carries the BK8 logo.
Neither do we do ANY social (or in this case anti-social) media, much to our childrens’ and grand-childrens’ curiosity.
We are reasonably computer savvy, but have not been able to track down anything linked to BK8 which we are not able to see/view on any trip to Norwich’s Gentleman’s Walk on a sunny day. What we have seen on-line cannot be compared to some of the horrendous sights on Prince of Wales Road after dark and pre-lockdown.
O T B C