French Internet Gambling Rules Slammed by Soccer Club

A major French soccer club upset one of the world's best teams yesterday, but warned it cannot remain competitive if French rules preventing advertising by foreign Internet gambling operators are not changed.

French soccer club Olympique Lyonnais ripped the national government's failure to comply with European Union regulations regarding Internet gambling. Because French law still discriminates against foreign online casino operators, Lyon, as the team is commonly known, cannot accept sponsorship from gaming operators.

Lyon plays in France's ultimate soccer league, Ligue 1, and faced world power Real Madrid in a UEFA Champions League match in Spain last night. Lyon managed a 1-1 tie, which advanced it past Madrid on aggregate goals, a stunning upset that team officials say may not be possible if French teams are forced to operate at a competitive disadvantage by gambling laws.

Madrid wore shirts bearing the bwin brand, bringing the club a massive influx of cash. Lyon, which had a deal with BetClic, is forbidden to advertise the Internet gambling site until French laws concerning online casinos are revised.

“Olympique Lyonnais is now faced with the fact that we cannot display our sponsors logo this Wednesday in Madrid, in a country which legally allows this type of publicity, and during a match where the main competitor of BetClic will appear on the shirts of Real Madrid!” read a statement released by the club.

“Olympique Lyonnais questions the exact motivation for these media-related and financial restrictions which impede the French champions in their search for competitiveness."

French law will not permit BetClic to sponsor a club or advertise in any way in France until the gaming company is licensed. New regulations opening the French gambling market have been in the works, but French lawmakers are resisting calls by EC examiners to amend the rules to allow free competition as required by the European Treaty.