Curious Fake Profiles Connected to Man City Sponsor 8Xbet
Author:
Megan Butler
Following the thrashing Man City inflicted on Man Utd at the weekend, a few questions have been raised regarding the legitimacy of Man City’s new pitch-side sponsor. The Asia-based 8Xbet has a particularly shady set of profiles and addresses affiliated with its founders, and the timelines that are being communicated don’t correlate with the reality of the digital trails concerning domain-name registration dates, and gambling license registration dates. All of this comes just 10 months after Man City cut ties with a gambling company that it turned out “did not exist”.
Advertising boards at the Etihad Stadium showed a new Asia-based sportsbook operator. 8xbet is unheard of by many, and it’s suspicious background and ownership have struck up questions about the legitimacy of the firm now partnered with the world’s highest valued club. ?jarmoluk/Pixabay
As the majority of world football watched Man City’s formidable attack ruthlessly pick apart a Man Utd team on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, a few watchful gambling advertising experts noticed a new brand flashing up on the advertising boards bordering the pitch. The LED boards were advertising a new betting partner, the Asian-based 8xbet. The new brand raised questions over their roots, who were they? Nobody in the industry has seen this brand before, and it seemed to be a case of another cash-rich Asian sportsbook muscling into one of the most expensive pieces of digital advertising real-estate in the entire industry.
City Group announced their deal with 8xbet back in the summer of 2022, and announced that the move was due to the increased presence the club has in Asia – and it’s desire to partner with the best gaming entertainment companies around the continents. Nothing out of the ordinary there, considering how tightly linked gambling and top-flight football are these days. But questions began to raise around the background of the company, information is freely available online, and curious links to social-media accounts being run from the UAE – and questions regarding the very existence of certain key figures behind the venture began to emerge.
City reaffirmed that 8xbet shares its commitment to providing great experiences to customers and fans alike. With financial details concerning the deal sparsely available, the City Group only revealed a few top-line details about the operator, claiming they’re a sportsbook founded in Asia back in 2018 with an international focus. But as pointed out by social-media investigators, these details and timelines don’t correlate with the digital trail.
Fake Profiles and Addresses Affiliated with 8xbet
According to internet investigative journalist Josimar, the Man City betting partner addresses and persons affiliated with the company are spurious. Addresses meant to be the head offices of the firm were instead found to be a hotel, a mobile phone shop, and a shack in the middle of a small town. The identities of the firm’s beneficiaries are not clear either, as it’s been discovered that an account on LinkedIn claiming to be the CEO of 8xbet contained a profile picture that was also being sold by a Colorado based company that specialises in stock photography.
Teddy Sheringham, a former England striker is also entangled with the firm, appearing in several of their marketing campaigns, and producing video-content for a YouTube channel he established in the last few months. There is very little traction on these videos, and Teddy Sheringham has not responded to any questions regarding his affiliation with 8xbet. The betting firm responded to the accusations telling people that they are a new brand, thus trying to grow their presence is an arduous process, and takes time at this early stage.
Yet these accusations are doing no favors for the perceived decision making skills of Manchester City’s marketing department. The risk-by-association is not lost on many people, at a time when football players, clubs, and celebrities are being scrutinized heavily for their responsibility when it comes to promoting safe and legitimate products, this partnership seems badly-timed, somewhat shady, and not befitting of one of the world’s best football clubs.
Considering Man City is the world’s highest valued football club according to Deloitte – coming off the back of huge growth across the commercial business, it seems unbelievable that they would allow another fake gambling operator to infiltrate their circle of trusted partner brands. Lack of due diligence, combined with sophisticated forgery is the likely cause of these circumstances. The UK Gambling Commission has stated that it remains aware of the allegations against 8xbet, and will conduct its own investigation into the matter.
