Crystal Palace’s New Sponsor Under Fire: Fake CEO and Cockfighting Bets

^{Pictured: Crystal Palace players wearing jerseys with the new sponsor’s logo}

Crystal Palace’s recent sponsorship deal with Asian bookmaker NET88 has ignited controversy in the UK, with questions swirling around the new title partner’s questionable background. According to BroBible, the majority of Brits were unaware of NET88’s existence prior to the announcement of this deal.

It’s no surprise, as finding information about NET88 remains difficult. The bookmaker lacks a functional UK website and only recently established an official X account (ex-Twitter). Furthermore, Crystal Palace’s press release described their new title sponsor as an online gaming service provider, conveniently omitting the fact that NET88 is primarily a betting company.

Sports journalist Martin Calladine unearthed even more intriguing details about NET88. 

It turns out that the supposed CEO, Phạm Minh Châu, bears a striking resemblance to the late Vietnamese TikTok star Đặng Ngọc Bích Tuyền, who passed away last year. 

Calladine also discovered that NET88’s platform offers bets on cockfights, a practice considered illegal and unethical in many countries.

It’s baffling that a club in the Premier League, one of the world’s most popular football leagues, would partner with such a dubious entity like NET88. BroBible suggests there are likely hundreds of less controversial companies willing to sponsor Crystal Palace.

Despite the many questions surrounding NET88, the company does possess official registration in the British Virgin Islands and multiple licenses in various jurisdictions:

• Malta Gaming License (MGA Malta Europe)
• UK Gambling Commission License
• Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation License (PAGCOR)

The news of Crystal Palace’s new title sponsor broke just a week earlier, revealing that the contract will span the next two seasons (2024/2025 and 2025/2026). Reports suggest that this deal is the most lucrative in the club’s history.