TUSSLE GOES ON: Mathare United launch complaint against KPL over Betway deal

U20 Mathare United FC's John Mwangi challenges Alpha Onyango (right) during the 2016 KPL U20 championship at Nyayo National stadium on Friday, August 26, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Mathare United have launched a complaint against SportPesa and Kenyan Premier League (KPL) over their sponsorship deal with betting and gaming company, Betway.

The protest has been sent to the KPL disciplinary committee and comes three weeks after United were denied an opportunity to display Betway branding merchandise in their match at Nyayo Stadium.

“The KPL was founded to serve and protect the rights and best interests of the clubs and shareholders. As the chairman of a founding KPL club and a director, I am naturally disappointed by unjustified refusal by KPL staff to allow our club to display the billboards of our new partner, Betway, during our last two home matches,” United wrote in the protest letter.

The statement signed by Mathare United chairman Bob Munro added; “Among other key issues, the KPL-SportPesa agreement of July 17, 2015 was not signed with the prior informed consent and approval of the KPL Governing Council and was also not signed by the KPL Chairman or any other KPL Director on behalf of the KPL clubs.

“Moreover, the agreement even specifically states that the exclusivity of SportPesa as the KPL Title Rights Sponsor “does not extend to the team sponsorship of individual teams.”

“In addition, the agreement appears not to be in conformity with, for example, key provisions in the Constitution of Kenya on protection of property and key parts of the Competition Act of Kenya on “Restrictive Agreements, Practices and Decisions.”

Munro said their decision to complain to the IDCC is because the KPL-SportPesa agreement not only infringes on their rights, but also unfairly exposes the future of the club, rights and future of the 13 other KPL clubs that are not sponsored by SportPesa.

“Moreover, it also jeopardises the future sporting integrity, competitiveness and viability of the KPL itself and also undermines the fundamental rights of other betting companies in Kenya to compete in an open, free and fair market.”

A source at the club said they would do everything possible to have the matter solved.

“If the IDCC does not rule in our favour, we will go to the Sports Tribunal. We will even go to the civil court, if there is need for that.”