English soccer team the Liverpool Reds have suspended their partnership with betting firm 1xBet pending a full investigation into illegal content.
1xBet has had its UK license suspended after it emerged that advertisements had been placed on websites that included the unlawful streaming of Premier League football.
The Russian firm has been accused of allowing bets in some countries on cockfights and children’s sports and was suspended by UK regulators earlier this year; 1xBet has launched its own investigation into the matter after insisting it was unaware how its company was being promoted on certain websites online.
The Reds could be hit with a multi-million pound fine if they are found to have knowingly promoted a gambling firm that had been outlawed, although it is likely that such a scenario would be a worst-case one for the European champions.
Chelsea and the Tottenham Hotspur have also cut ties with the online betting company.
Liverpool only agreed to a multi-year deal with 1xBet back in July after describing the firm as “one of the most rapidly developing companies” in the betting industry. “We are delighted to welcome 1xBet to Liverpool FC as our newest partner,” said managing director and chief commercial officer Billy Hogan at the time.
