Significant Chelsea sponsor update as fans mobilise against Todd Boehly and Everton betting partners

Chelsea supporters have mobilised against Todd Boehly and the club's board with news that a sponsorship deal may be struck up with betting brand Stake.com.

The company currently sponsors Everton and any deal would have to be short-term as it goes against the recent Premier League ruling against front-of-shirt betting sponsors which will be banned by 2025/26.

The latest reports from Stamford Bridge are that the Premier League has blocked a possible new deal with streaming service Paramount due to concerns over breaking league rules and ruffling the feathers of broadcasting partners.

It leaves Stake.com as the rumoured front runner and the Chelsea Supporters' Trust has penned a furious letter to Mr Boehly demanding that he reconsider any such idea.

The Trust wrote: "The Chelsea Supporters' Trust does not believe that it is in the best interests of our members for Chelsea Football Club to associate with an online casino and betting company as the primary shirt sponsor. On Friday 16th June, the Chelsea Supporters' Trust issued an urgent question to its membership to ascertain views and opinions on this matter.

“YouGov estimates that over one million people are addicted to gambling in the UK, with nearly three million people harmed by someone else's gambling. Over 77% of our voting members strongly disagree or disagree with the use of an online casino and betting company as the primary shirt sponsor."

In the poll, only 8.13% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with having Stake.com as a sponsor with 14.41% neutral to the partnership.

The Trust added that it was 'deeply concerned' that such a deal would also be detrimental to The Chelsea Foundation. The charity branch of the club has run workshops to prevent betting addiction in local schools and also pioneers mental health through a More Than Football campaign.

The Trust said: "An online casino and betting company as a primary shirt sponsor would make a total mockery of much of the previous work pioneered by The Chelsea Foundation. It would be short-sighted and would force many of our members to see any future CFC Foundation projects as tokenistic.

"The Chelsea Supporters' Trust believes that this type of sponsor will alienate many supporters. It should be noted that Chelsea FC is a global leader that has a significant influence on people.

"This influence must never be misused to propagate a market to children that has such an adverse impact on people. Children are explicitly at risk and there are 105,000 British children already addicted to gambling or at risk of being so."

The letter published online also cited former Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen who recently opened up about losing £400,000 in five months due to a gambling addiction. The Trust hopes for further consultation and dialogue with the club on the matter.