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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Football League to drop payday lender's adverts | Football League to drop payday lender's adverts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Football League is to remove all adverts for payday lender Wonga from its clubs' websites after signing a deal with Capital One. | The Football League is to remove all adverts for payday lender Wonga from its clubs' websites after signing a deal with Capital One. |
| A spokesman for the league said the deal with Wonga had come to an end and they were not seeking to renew it. | A spokesman for the league said the deal with Wonga had come to an end and they were not seeking to renew it. |
| It comes before fans were due to vote on a motion calling for the lender's adverts to be pulled from club sites. | It comes before fans were due to vote on a motion calling for the lender's adverts to be pulled from club sites. |
| Wonga has declined to comment about the motion due to be heard at the Football Supporters' Federation's (FSF) AGM. | Wonga has declined to comment about the motion due to be heard at the Football Supporters' Federation's (FSF) AGM. |
| The motion asked the Football League not to renew its website contract with Wonga unless a cap on the cost of credit and tighter regulation was introduced. | The motion asked the Football League not to renew its website contract with Wonga unless a cap on the cost of credit and tighter regulation was introduced. |
| A spokesman for the league said the decision to pull the adverts was not down to the motion but was as a result of the new sponsorship deal. | A spokesman for the league said the decision to pull the adverts was not down to the motion but was as a result of the new sponsorship deal. |
| He said the adverts would be removed from all club sites over the next few days. | He said the adverts would be removed from all club sites over the next few days. |
| In May, Wonga was criticised by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for using aggressive and misleading debt collection methods. | In May, Wonga was criticised by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for using aggressive and misleading debt collection methods. |
| The firm said the misleading behaviour was isolated and took place a long time ago. | The firm said the misleading behaviour was isolated and took place a long time ago. |
| The "Red Card for Wonga" campaign is being led by football fans and Labour MP Stella Creasy. | The "Red Card for Wonga" campaign is being led by football fans and Labour MP Stella Creasy. |
| Ms Creasy said the company's adverts appear on about 75 out of the 85 clubs which use the Football League Interactive website "platform". | Ms Creasy said the company's adverts appear on about 75 out of the 85 clubs which use the Football League Interactive website "platform". |
| She said other companies also targeted football grounds, with the Money Shop sponsoring a stand at Nottingham Forest. | She said other companies also targeted football grounds, with the Money Shop sponsoring a stand at Nottingham Forest. |
| Wonga is also the main sponsor of Championship club Blackpool. | |
| She said: "Whilst the UK government refuses to tackle legal loan sharking, that doesn't mean we can't do anything to check their behaviour. | She said: "Whilst the UK government refuses to tackle legal loan sharking, that doesn't mean we can't do anything to check their behaviour. |
| "This campaign is calling on football to show leadership on this issue and reject these adverts from their websites and grounds until this industry is better regulated." | "This campaign is calling on football to show leadership on this issue and reject these adverts from their websites and grounds until this industry is better regulated." |
| The FSF's AGM will take place on 7 July in London. | The FSF's AGM will take place on 7 July in London. |
| 'Terrific news' | 'Terrific news' |
| The motion states: "Wonga clearly sees the demographic profile of football supporters as a profitable market to be exploited. | The motion states: "Wonga clearly sees the demographic profile of football supporters as a profitable market to be exploited. |
| "Fans' Parliament 2012 calls upon the Football League, through its FLI subsidiary, to refrain from renewing any website advertising contract with Wonga.com until such time as there is tighter regulation of the short-term loans industry in the UK and a cap on interest rates that can be charged." | "Fans' Parliament 2012 calls upon the Football League, through its FLI subsidiary, to refrain from renewing any website advertising contract with Wonga.com until such time as there is tighter regulation of the short-term loans industry in the UK and a cap on interest rates that can be charged." |
| Northampton Town supporter Bob Ward proposed the motion. | Northampton Town supporter Bob Ward proposed the motion. |
| He said the announcement by the Football League was "terrific news". | He said the announcement by the Football League was "terrific news". |
| Mr Ward added the motion would probably now be used as a discussion point during the meeting. | Mr Ward added the motion would probably now be used as a discussion point during the meeting. |
| "Some people have said if we ban payday loan companies adverts what about alcohol, tobacco and gambling but the difference is all those industries are regulated around how where and to whom they can advertise," he said. | "Some people have said if we ban payday loan companies adverts what about alcohol, tobacco and gambling but the difference is all those industries are regulated around how where and to whom they can advertise," he said. |
| "One in eight visitors to Football League websites are under 18 so these adverts are reaching children." | "One in eight visitors to Football League websites are under 18 so these adverts are reaching children." |
| The advertising deal with Wonga was sold by Football League Interactive across the entire Football League Interactive network of club sites. | The advertising deal with Wonga was sold by Football League Interactive across the entire Football League Interactive network of club sites. |
| More debt help | More debt help |
| The campaign is also calling on fans to write to David Bernstein, the chair of the Football Association (FA), asking him to back the campaign. | The campaign is also calling on fans to write to David Bernstein, the chair of the Football Association (FA), asking him to back the campaign. |
| In addition they are asking the FA to extend a ban on alcohol and tobacco advertising and merchandise aimed at fans under the age of 18 to include payday lenders. | In addition they are asking the FA to extend a ban on alcohol and tobacco advertising and merchandise aimed at fans under the age of 18 to include payday lenders. |
| In February the OFT said payday lenders, who offer short-term, high interest loans to consumers, would be investigated amid concerns that they have been pushing loans to people who cannot afford to repay them. | In February the OFT said payday lenders, who offer short-term, high interest loans to consumers, would be investigated amid concerns that they have been pushing loans to people who cannot afford to repay them. |
| The results of the investigation are expected later this year. | The results of the investigation are expected later this year. |
| Business Minister Norman Lamb announced last month that the trade bodies that represent payday lenders had agreed to offer more help for debtors. | Business Minister Norman Lamb announced last month that the trade bodies that represent payday lenders had agreed to offer more help for debtors. |
| The commitments include lenders agreeing to freeze charges and interest for borrowers in difficulty, no later than 60 days after they stop making payments. | The commitments include lenders agreeing to freeze charges and interest for borrowers in difficulty, no later than 60 days after they stop making payments. |