Financial Times: Premier League Clubs Sponsored by Illegal Asian Gambling Firms

The Financial Times (FT), a British business newspaper, has exposed the shady owners of Asian gambling companies that sponsor some of the top Premier League football clubs and other European leagues.

The FT’s investigation found that behind the logos on players’ jerseys, such as 138.com, Yabo, and Tianyu, are illegal online gambling operators from China.

The investigation also uncovered a global network of fake companies and phantom organizations behind these sponsors. One of the most prominent sponsors, Suncity Group, which sponsors Manchester United and other teams, is run by Alvin Chau, who is involved in money laundering and organized crime. Chau was sentenced to 18 years in prison in January 2023.

This case has raised concerns among the football fans who may not always understand the meaning of the Chinese and Vietnamese inscriptions on their favorite teams’ jerseys.

British authorities are alarmed by the situation and plan to take serious measures to investigate the sources of funding for football clubs. The authors of the investigation, James Sandy from FT and Taro Yokosawa, believe that fans around the world deserve to know the truth.