Premier League football club Stoke City FC has signed a one-off shirt sponsorship deal with an Asian-based charity for its pre-season tour in Singapore next month, as the club is banned from featuring its long-term sponsor bet365.
The unique sponsorship deal with the Asian Football Confederation for the One Goal child malnutrition campaign has been agreed for the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy next month, ahead of the start of the new Premier League season in August.
Stoke will wear shirts bearing the One Goal logo throughout the tournament in Singapore, with the opening game taking place on Wednesday July 15th against Premier League rivals Everton FC.
The club are unable to wear shirts featuring their usual sponsor, bet365, as Singapore recently brought in regulations to prohibit online gaming in the country, including a ban on advertising.
The Asian Football Confederation and World Vision, backed by the Premier League, have teamed up to create One Goal, a campaign that aims to use the power of football to raise awareness of child malnutrition in Asia. It is estimated that more than 200m children across Asia are prevented from leading a healthy, active life because of poor nutrition.
Stoke City’s chief executive Tony Scholes said: “It’s a staggering statistic that one quarter of Asia’s 350m children under the age of five are underweight. One Goal aims to use the power of football to promote, fund and push for programmes to be introduced that will look to make that statistic history.
“Football is enormously popular in Asia and we’re delighted to be able to use our participation in the Barclays Asia Trophy 2015 to help publicise and endorse the One Goal message.”
Stefan Germann, executive director of One Goal, commented: “Football fans in Asia and around the world have the power through the One Goal movement to get good nutrition to every child, it is great to see Stoke City FC so actively supporting this movement.”
source : www.gamingintelligence.com
