EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa terminate deal with betting firm Parimatch after they were sanctioned by Ukraine for operating in Russia… with Chelsea, Newcastle and Leicester also expected to cut ties with sponsor
- Parimatch are a Cyprus-based sports tech company and Aston Villa cut ties
- Company are one of 287 betting operators sanctioned by Ukraine this month
- Chelsea, Newcastle and Leicester could all terminate deals with Parimatch
Aston Villa have terminated their sponsorship deal with Parimatch after the betting firm were sanctioned by Ukraine, with Chelsea, Newcastle and Leicester expected to follow their lead shortly.
The Cyprus-based sports tech company were one of 287 betting operators sanctioned for continuing to operate in Russia earlier this month, with President Zelensky accusing them of seeking to benefit financially from the invasion of Ukraine.
Sportsmail revealed a fortnight ago that Chelsea were reviewing their contract with Parimatch due to particularly sensitivity at Stamford Bridge over the Russian invasion, but Villa have moved quickest to sever ties.
Villa are understood to have mutually agreed to terminate their marketing rights with Parimatch following constructive talks.
Aston Villa are one of the clubs Parimatch worked with but have terminated their deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused firms of seeking to benefit financially from the invasion of his country, with the company continuing to operate in Russia
Chelsea, Newcastle and Leicester remain in the process of liaising with Parimatch over their deals, but termination is expected shortly.
The issue is particularly pressing for Chelsea and Newcastle as both clubs have home matches this weekend, Parimatch branding due to be displayed on LED advertising hoardings at Stamford Bridge and St James Park.
The anticipated terminations will come as a relief to the Premier League, who despite offering considerable financial support to Ukraine have also faced scrutiny since the start of the war for their links to companies operating in Russia.
In June last year the Premier League took decisive action by cancelling their new six-year £43million television contract in the country with Match TV, which is owned by state-controlled energy company Gazprom.
At one stage Parimatch had sponsorship or marketing deals with over a third of the Premier League, but their contracts with Brighton, Southampton and Everton expired before the start of this season and were not renewed.
Parimatch are one of 287 betting firms to be sanctioned by Ukraine after the invasion
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