Brighton bars Guardian journalists following gambling allegations
Brighton & Hove Albion has enacted a ban on journalists and photographers from the Guardian at its home ground, a decision made following the newspaper’s coverage of allegations involving club owner Tony Bloom and his gambling operations, reports BritPanorama.
The Premier League club communicated the restriction to the publication on Sunday, indicating that no further accreditation would be granted for fixtures at the Amex Stadium. This action took immediate effect ahead of Brighton’s match against West Ham.
The club asserted that it would be “inappropriate for journalists and photographers from the Guardian to be accredited to matches at the Amex.” This unprecedented move follows articles scrutinising Bloom, a billionaire whose wealth stems from professional gambling via his Starlizard consultancy.
The Guardian’s reports included details of a High Court lawsuit filed against Bloom by Ryan Dudfield, a former associate seeking a share of the profits from the Starlizard Betting Syndicate. Court documents claim that the syndicate used “frontmen” to place bets on sporting events, with a figure linked to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage being identified as one such intermediary.
This collective is reportedly responsible for generating approximately £600 million annually in winnings, according to court filings. A subsequent article raised concerns about whether Bloom is behind $70 million in anonymous high-stakes gambling profits, with insinuations of betting on his own football clubs.
Bloom has yet to file a defence in the UK lawsuit, but he has firmly rejected any allegations of improper betting related to his teams. In a statement released through Brighton’s official channels, he declared, “I can categorically assure our supporters that I have not placed bets on any Brighton & Hove Albion matches since becoming the owner of the club in 2009.” He noted a special agreement with the Football Association allowing him to continue betting, provided it excludes matches involving Brighton or his Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise.
Bloom indicated that his betting practices undergo annual reviews by a major global accountancy firm to ensure compliance with FA regulations. He labelled the allegations as “entirely false” and confirmed that his legal representatives had reached out to the Guardian regarding the allegations.
The club has also communicated directly with both the FA and Premier League on this matter. Senior politicians, including Clive Betts, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on football, have urged the Football Association to conduct “a thorough and comprehensive investigation” into the claims. Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, echoed this call for transparency, pressing the FA to clarify its policies on gambling.
In response to the ban, the Guardian defended its reporting, stating that the issues raised are in the public interest and were pursued responsibly. The action taken by Brighton has drawn criticism from journalism advocates and media commentators who voice concerns over press freedom and the transparency of football clubs.
As the controversy unfolds, the impact on both Brighton’s reputation and the media’s ability to report on it invites scrutiny, reminding audiences of the delicate balance between sport and the broader implications of governance and accountability in football.
