Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 6:12 PM• Wessel Antes • Last update: 18:12

The ChristenUnie protests against the new shirt sponsor of AZ, it reports Noordhollands daily newspaper Thursday. Next season, the club from Alkmaar will play with online gambling company Kansino on the shirt. This makes Kansino the first online casino to become a shirt sponsor in the Eredivisie. The Christian party raises the issue through questions with the Municipal Executive of Alkmaar.

ChristenUnie councilor Ronald van Veen reacts incensed to the club’s decision. “It is clear to us that AZ is not doing anything wrong legally. We do find it morally reprehensible to have a football club sponsored by a sector that causes so much social misery”. If it is up to Van Veen, the municipality will stop with the skybox at AZ. The club must also inform fans of the dangers of online gambling and the consequences of a gambling addiction.

“The municipality comes into contact with gambling addicts every day. Through the Social Support Act (Social Support Act, ed.), benefits and the police and justice system, we see the harmful consequences of this addiction reappearing on the taxpayer’s plate, not to mention the social misery that this entails.” Van Veen continues. “Families are torn apart, huge debts are incurred and even homelessness and the use of sedatives are sometimes the result of a ‘game’ gone wrong.”

AZ will not be the only club with a sponsor from the gambling industry on the shirt next season. At Vitesse, BetCity will be on the back. PhD student FC Volendam also has a deal with this company. The three-year contract was signed before promotion to the Eredivisie. Feyenoord and PSV have been playing with the Dutch Lottery/Toto on their shoulder since 2020.