DID THEY EVEN GOOGLE? NORWICH CITY RED FACED AFTER UNWISE BK8 SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

Just one day after Norwich City FC announced a sponsorship deal with Malta-based, Asia-focused gambling operator BK8 Sports, fans are revolting. 

The crisis, which already has people drawing parallels to the 1xBet scandal that caused major headaches for fellow Premier League clubs Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur in late 2019, BK8 has been found using sexually explicit marketing content on its official social media accounts.

In an attempt to calm fans, Norwich City says it has made sure BK8 has removed the explicit content, but also added that BK8’s approach does not “align with the wider vision and values” of the club. Furthermore, Norwich City has said it will be reviewing its due diligence process. 

BK8 issued an apology to fans, saying: “BK8 would like to wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused by our historical marketing. We accept 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.”

AYO.NEWS says:

It completely beggars belief that we are still getting major football clubs and esports organisations signing big money deals with the likes of BK8 and 1xBet. One can only assume those tasked with due diligence were either under the influence or have never been introduced to Google. 

Illustrating that it isn’t just a football problem, earlier this year major esports tournament organiser ESL announced a partnership with 1xBet – the very same gambling operator that caused the issues for Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur in 2019. 

Ukraine-based WePlay Esports also recently discovered how damaging skimping on even the most basic due diligence can be, when both Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment-owned NetherRealm Studios, and Bandai Namco Esports, cut ties with the tournament operator due to its partnership with 1xBet. 

And, its probably best not to even mention BLAST and Riot Games’ misguided, and extremely short-lived deals with the devil (Saudi regime). 

Regarding the Norwich City/BK8 Sports deal – we predict it’s dead in the water.