Premier League
West Ham To Part Ways With Biggest Sponsor Over Role In Alleged Betting Scam
West Ham plans to end their partnership with their primary sponsor, Betway, in the coming year due to their involvement in a betting scandal.
This scandal may result in Lucas Paqueta, a key player for the team, facing a lifetime ban from the sport.
Betway was the initial entity to raise concerns about the excessive bets placed on Paqueta for matches in West Ham last year, which led to his arrest for match-fixing and the FA’s request for a lifetime ban from the sport.
The Premier League club is fiercely determined to challenge the FA, with SunSport revealing their serious consideration of legal action to prevent the FA from hearing Paqueta’s case.
West Ham is exploring taking their dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Laussane, arguing that the FA lacks the authority to impose a lifetime ban on Paqueta.
The club is also displeased with Betway, mainly because they were not consulted before they reported the questionable bets to the integrity officials.
West Ham will fulfil their current £10 million-a-year jersey sponsorship with Betway, which has one more season remaining.
Lucas Paqueta
West Ham Making Plans For Fresh Season
Despite the ongoing situation, the club is already proactively seeking new sponsors for the 2025/26 season, demonstrating their forward-thinking and strategic planning.
West Ham is also demonstrating their adaptability by exploring alternative sponsorship opportunities for the 2026/27 season, in response to a new government prohibition on gambling advertisements on jerseys that will begin that summer.
The Paqueta situation could speed up their decision to leave Betway.
Gambling companies will continue to be permitted to engage in sponsorship agreements through 2026/27, although it’s doubtful that West Ham will consider Betway for such a deal.
Betway initially disclosed the surge of bets placed on Paqueta in the previous year.
Their concerns were heightened by the origin of many of these bets from new sign-ups residing on Paqueta Island, an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
Paqueta is being accused of intentionally placing bets in four Premier League games – against Leicester in 2022 and Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth in 2023 – to make profits for friends.
Betway insiders have indicated to SunSport their anticipation for collaborating with West Ham in the upcoming season, though they have chosen not to discuss their business dealings.
