02 Jul 2016 22:45:18
Following on from the discussion earlier about a betting company sponsoring us.

I just got around to reading the replies and someone said about how betting can destroy lives.

I mean deary me, I know a lot more people who have ruined their lives with alcohol. I don't recall any complaints about Carlsberg being our main sponsors for the majority of the premier league era.

Just seems like people are looking for a stick to beat our owners with, yet again.

If anyone is genuinely stupid enough to see a Liverpool training kit and think "you know what, I might throw my life away on gambling" then I'm sorry but that is not the fault of the club, or the betting company. The fault lies solely at the feet of the person who betted irresponsibly.

And just for the record, I have never even been into a bookies. I occasionally put the odd £1 accumulator on using an online site. Bet I have never bet more than £1 at once. So I'm defending it because I like it!

1.) 03 Jul 2016
02 Jul 2016 23:38:28
Should say "So I'm not defending it because I like. "

2.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 00:10:39
Dead on, nice post. People just want something to complain about when it comes to FSG.

3.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 02:20:31
Just because you enjoy it, and are capable of gambling sensibly, doesn't me it is a good idea or that everybody else has the same amount of restraint. The scientific literature does not support your contention that is solely the fault of the person who gambled in the first place either. Like all forms of addiction (addiction is classified as a mental health condition) gambling addiction is more than a person "deciding" to throw money away - it is an uncontrollable behaviour that spirals into chaos. Just like how lots of people can drink alcohol without issue there is a percentage of people who will become addicts - those addicts only need 1 drink and that's it, the control is gone. The same applies to betting - most people might put on the odd accumulator or have the odd flutter but there is a percentage who, once they start, cannot stop. They are not "choosing" to ruin their life, they are addicts and they need help not encouragement.

I believe the clubs image and ethos is very important to how it is perceived, both in England and abroad, and I don't think it needs to have a betting company anywhere near it. This is not having a go at FSG, this is me saying that, i mu opinion, this is a poor move by the club.

4.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 02:54:15
That wasn't the reason I complained about the betting company logo on the shirts. I wasn't using it to moan about FSG, who I happen to think have been as good as anyone could have been. Try reading the posts properly. It's a complaint in moral grounds; I would rather alcohol, payday loan companies and betting firms were all banned from shirts. By the way, Barcelona give money to UNICEF, not the other way round.

5.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 03:07:14
I disagree. The availability of online betting will attract more people towards it so I don't necessarily think that it is solely at the feet of the person, the company will also have some level of blame. Its like saying heroin addiction has nothing to do with drug dealers. Although there are lots of other factors in play I think it's safe to say that there is a positive correlation between the two. Not that I oppose a betting company sponsoring Liverpool. It's exactly like what you said regarding Carlsberg.

6.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 06:22:56
You are speaking from a position of ignorance MK, I've seen what gambling can do to a person first hand, a family member of mine a few years back was blowing his wages on FOBT, in the bookies, some days going without food.

Your trivialising a very serious subject to defend the owners, which is abhorrent in my eyes, and I suggest you research gambling addiction before making such stupid comments.

7.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 06:35:59
Would you not have an issue with Benson and Hedges advertising on the shirts then, MKScouser?

8.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 08:41:39
Every other advert on the tv during the footy is a gambling advert. A few words on a training topic nothing compared to that. Get down off your high horses and enjoy the fact that we're still commercially attractive at the moment. This deal helps pay towards our club.

9.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 09:50:34
Just because its ubiquitous, doesn't mean its right unicorn.

10.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 10:34:40
Choose your scumbag.
Most major corporations have ruined someone's life directly or indirectly whether it be gambling, sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, tax dodging or financial institution causing global recessions. None of them should be trivialised.

Your damned whichever you choose IMO.

11.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 10:48:40
Fair enough guys.

Let's just get back to talking about transfers, tactics and stuff rather than argue amongst ourselves.

I see where people are coming from, but it's just coming across as the 21st century PC brigade to me. Whereas to you lads, I'm bound to be considered ignorant. That's just the way of the world today, so no change there ;)

12.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 10:51:43
waro, agree with what you are saying, I've seen a friend lose everything through online gambling, but there is no difference between alcohol, drugs or gambling; all destroy lives.

13.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 11:12:12
100% agree with that Ron.

14.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 11:56:10
Barcelona pay UNICEF but also have a mega-deal with Qatar Airways for their shirt-fronts and a deal with Beko for their sleeve. Maybe best not to talk about working conditions in Qatar if we're taking moral high-ground?

I don't particularly like a betting company on our kits but no bank or alcohol or loan company is any better.

{Ed001's Note - the deal with UNICEF was purely to get the fans to accept shirt sponsorship, it is not through altruism at all. The deal with Qatar is far more than just the airline on the front of the shirts as well.}

15.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 12:01:36
I would just like to highlight this part of your message MK "If anyone is genuinely stupid enough to see a Liverpool training kit and think "you know what, I might throw my life away on gambling" " as someone stated this is speaking out of ignorance in I'm being honest. I'm speaking from a point of view of someone who has had a bad gambling addiction and has had to seek help, but people don't see the advertisements and think they're going to gamble their life, it's more towards people who already have the addiction or are dealing with the addiction, same way if someone quitting smoking smells smoke as they walk past and then suddenly want one themselves, or as stated someone quitting heroin sees their drug dealer on the street and the temptation automatically starts, well a gambling addict seeing a betting company every weekend they watch there team play can have the same affect I'm not saying it will to everyone but to a minority of people it really will.

16.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 13:26:05
@ Mike g. WHAT?

17.) 03 Jul 2016
03 Jul 2016 17:48:38
@Anniefields that's completely different. B&H advertisement, like all tobacco advertisement here, is illegal so no that wouldn't be preferred .

MK isn't saying he's supporting it as much as he just doesn't see it as so bad. In this world most advertising can be questioned ethically. Alcohol sponsors on football shirts for a fan base with a culture of drunken violence / McDonald's sponsoring kids athletics and sports tournaments.

They don't match up and in an ideal world we'd all get rid of them but they pay the bills. This is NOT an FSG problem this is a worldwide culture issue.