Newcastle United have been charged by the FA due to their Under-18 team’s kit being sponsored by FUN88, a Chinese betting company, the BBC have reported.
The first team is also sponsored by the online betting site, however, the FA have stated that it is an offence that is in breach of the kit and advertising regulations.
FA rules state that kits displaying or advertising “services and related activities such as alcohol and gambling” cannot be worn by U18 teams.
The regulation continues to say that any teams that feature players “all under the age of 18 on 31 August in the current season is prohibited from wearing clothing that features any reference whatsoever to a product, service or other activity which is considered by the association as detrimental to the welfare, health or general interest of young persons”.
Newcastle United U18’s previous match, a 7-0 loss to Everton, was played without a kit sponsor.
Newcastle now have until 18:00 on Thursday to respond to the charge.
