Stuttgart Drops Bookmaker Sponsor Winamax Ahead of German Cup Final

Just before the German Cup Final, VfB Stuttgart announced they’ll play the championship game with a new jersey sponsor, Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (LBBW). 

Club officials stated the bank agreed to step in as sponsor on short notice. The previously announced partnership between Stuttgart and LBBW was slated to kick off next season, but an exception was made for the high-stakes German Cup Final. This development reportedly caught betting firm Winamax, which holds an active contract as Stuttgart’s main jersey sponsor, completely off guard.

Winamax officials have already declared the abrupt switch a clear breach of contract. Furthermore, representatives from the betting firm pointed out that Stuttgart has previously engaged in conduct detrimental to Winamax’s reputation and business operations. 

Specifics regarding these alleged detrimental actions were not provided.

Notably, the German club has yet to offer a comprehensive explanation as to why Winamax was stripped of its jersey advertising rights for the Cup Final. German media outlets speculate the core issue may be outstanding debts Winamax allegedly owes the club, reportedly amounting to €2.5 million.

The dispute between the two parties is now likely to head to court, though it remains unclear at this stage who will initiate legal proceedings and who will be named as the defendant.

It’s worth noting that the original sponsorship deal between Stuttgart and Winamax faced criticism from both club supporters and incoming investor Porsche at the time it was signed.